Sunak can’t get rid of Johnson’s scandals Spectacular find in Tuscany: Museum of bronzes planned

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak can’t get rid of his Conservative enemy Boris Johnson. It doesn’t matter what topics Sunak broaches and what he wants to talk about – the conversation always comes back to the scandal-ridden ex-government leader. The Guardian noted, “Johnson’s legacy haunts Sunak.” The incumbent could not bring himself to publicly criticize his former boss. That could hurt him now.

But one after the other. Ironically, on Johnson’s 59th birthday, the House of Commons in London debated a committee’s devastating report on the “Partygate” affair. The bottom line: then Prime Minister Johnson repeatedly lied to the House of Commons about the scandal surrounding the Downing Street lockdown celebrations.

In response, Johnson loudly denounced members of the committee, including several Conservative MPs. But he was followed by less than a handful of his confidants: only seven MPs voted against the report and the withdrawal of Johnson’s parliamentary pass in the House of Commons.

Johnson’s birthday three years ago had also proved fatal. Because he was celebrated with cake despite the corona contact restrictions, he was later fined by the police – as the first sitting prime minister in British history. This turned out not to be an isolated case: there was drinking and partying in government buildings while the country remained in lockdown.

But when photos and eyewitness accounts became public, Johnson denied everything. All rules had been followed, he claimed in parliament. When that was no longer tenable, he stated that he had heard nothing more about the festivities. When it became clear that he had attended the party himself, he took the position that he had not realized that the parties were illegal. The committee did not believe him.

The debate now turned to whether parliament would adopt the findings of the inquiry and impose sanctions on Johnson. Johnson avoided a 90-day suspension recommended by the committee by resigning. The sentence was significantly higher because Johnson had previously defamed the commission as a “kangaroo court”. He feels himself the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt by Brexit opponents and personal enemies.

But in the end, only a few of Johnson’s confidants defended the ex-premier. Johnson called his people back – also because there was a clear majority against him, because this time there was no party obligation. Many Tory MPs, including Johnson’s successor Liz Truss, failed to even turn up for the House of Commons. Others openly asked for approval. Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May spoke of a “small but important step to restore people’s trust in MPs”.

Sunak himself missed the debate. At the same time, the Prime Minister received Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. How he would vote in the event of a vote left Sunak open to several questions. “It is important that the government does not interfere, as it is a matter for Parliament and MPs as individuals, not as members of the government,” the prime minister said in an ITV interview.

Penny Mordaunt, the minister responsible for parliamentary affairs, sat almost alone on the government bench. Observers spoke of an embarrassing impression for Sunak, who had promised more integrity when he took office.

The opposition immediately accused the prime minister of poor leadership. “If the Prime Minister is not even able to show leadership when it comes to holding liars to account, how can he expect the citizens of this country to trust him in anything else,” said Labor MP Thangam Debbonaire.

Sunak’s caution is entirely justified. Johnson has few allies in the Tory faction and, according to a survey by Yougov, the British as a whole don’t want to know much more about the ex-premier. But the same poll also found that Johnson is still more popular with conservative voters than Sunak, whom many at the grassroots blame for the populist’s demise.

“What do you think of Boris?” With parliamentary elections scheduled for 2024, this should become a crucial question for many Tory candidates. The reviled former prime minister has repeatedly made it clear that he does not consider his political career over.

Because he has already left the House of Representatives, the vote in the House of Representatives will not have major consequences for him. Otherwise he would have been suspended as a Member of Parliament for 90 days for his behaviour.

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