A new domestic political crisis has weakened Boris Johnson

The two-week climate conference in Glasgow was to give Boris Johnson a chance to spread his diplomacy internationally. This November also proves crucial for the future of its relationship with the European Union, as the UK demands overhaul of the customs rules in place for Northern Ireland since Brexit. Unfortunately, a new scandal has overshadowed the British Prime Minister, which lifts the veil on the questionable practices of some elected officials in Westminster.

Boris Johnson sparked outrage last week by bringing him Support for a member who was to be temporarily suspended for using his position in Parliament To honor pressure contracts. Owen Patterson, a former member of Cameron’s government, was given £100,000 a year by agribusiness group Lynn’s Country Foods and clinical diagnostics company Randox involved in the government’s Covid testing scheme.

A counterproductive maneuver

The Prime Minister initially pushed for his Conservative majority to vote in favor of changing the House of Commons rules to spare Owen Patterson from being suspended. The maneuver was futile. Dozens of Conservative MPs defied the prime minister by voting against the decision. Faced with this anger, Boris Johnson was forced to retreat. As for his stepson, he was forced to resign.

so far Boris Johnson was doing well in the polls Despite accumulating social and economic hardships ranging from supply problems to rising energy prices, including tax increases. This new crisis, this time undermining his integrity, raised the level of satisfaction by 7 points in the polls.

In the latest Ipsos Mori survey, the Downing Street tenant is no longer given a 34% satisfaction rating, a level comparable to that of his predecessors after two years in office, with the exception of Tony Blair. The curve of voting intent, if legislative elections were held today, intersected with that of the Labor Party for the first time since September 2020, at a time when its management of the pandemic has been deeply controversial.

refusal to discuss

While a debate on the rules governing parliamentarians’ work was urgently organized on Monday afternoon in the House of Commons, Boris Johnson declined to participate, justifying his absence with a planned hospital visit with a “long history” in north-east England. He preferred sending Steve Barclay, Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office, to coal. However, he reacted in the middle of the day, saying it was necessary to “do things right” and “hold MPs to account. Labor leader Keir Starmer accused the prime minister of giving a “green light to corruption”. Instead of repairing the damage done, he said, The Prime Minister fled,” facing somewhat scattered conservative ranks.

In the meantime, the House of Commons could adopt new rules to better regulate the work of MPs, who may be prohibited from accepting roles as outside advisers, as happened after the expenditure report scandal in 2009 which was reflected in the tightening of the rules. Lindsey Hoyle, the “Speaker” of the House of Commons, said “Parliament” did not appear to be at its best last week. “We have to find another way,” he added.