Conservative MPs pushing for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign over the “partygate” scandal should “forget it,” Home Secretary Priti Patel has said.
Since the publication of an official report on May 25 on COVID-19 breaches inside Downing Street, 12 Conservative MPs have openly called for Johnson to resign, taking the total number to 28.
The report, written by senior civil servant Sue Gray, detailed events in which officials drank so much that they were sick, sang karaoke, became involved in altercations, and abused security and cleaning staff at a time when millions of people across the country were unable to see friends and family because of pandemic restrictions.
Gray wrote that “the senior leadership at the centre” must bear responsibility for the breaches, which resulted in a total of 126 fines being issued to 83 people, including Johnson, his wife, Carrie, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Patel said writing letters of no-confidence in Johnson was a “sideshow” and the party should be focused on “real challenges that we have to find solutions to.”
“We need to concentrate on doing our jobs. Look at what is going on in the world right now, look at the challenges that we face domestically. We can’t ignore those,” she said.
“Our job is to deliver on the people’s priorities. They won’t thank the Conservative Party for talking about itself at a time when people have anxieties, concerns, apprehensions.”
Patel also said she thought leadership rows should not overshadow the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Earlier, Johnson claimed that quitting as prime minister over the partygate scandal would be irresponsible.
In an interview with Mumsnet released on June 1, he cited “huge pressures” on the economy, the war in Ukraine, and his “massive agenda” as his reasons for remaining in his post and not seeking to “abandon” ship.
The prime minister could face a leadership challenge if 54 Conservative MPs—15 percent of the parliamentary party—write to the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Sir Graham Brady, calling for a vote of no confidence.
While only 28 Tory MPs have so far publicly called for Johnson to step down, that doesn’t necessarily reflect the total number of formal letters submitted to Brady, which is kept secret.
