The vote to choose the new British Prime Minister has closed. The name of the winner will be known on Monday, September 5. A day later, a new conservative government will begin, from the party that has been in power for 12 years.
In his last hours as prime minister, Boris Johnson has tried to defend the legacy of his more than 3 years in government.
Except for its determination to materialize the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, in January 2020, and whose definitive effects are yet to be seen, as well as the efficient campaign to vaccinate the population against Covid-19 and the defense and support for Ukraine during the Russian invasion, its government was in the shadows.
The scandals, most starring him and his wife Carrie, were almost daily bread. These were big and distracting in 2022, so much so that except for working to lead Europe’s response against Russia for the war in Ukraine, his management was overshadowed by the scandal known as ‘partygate’.
In the first days of June, after the national holidays to celebrate the 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II on the throne, Johnson survived a confidence vote, but was so weakened that the end of his Government was a matter of days or the slightest error.
And it is that, in the United Kingdom, where traditions are fundamental, it is believed that a prime minister who survives a motion, has one foot outside Downing Street.
It was the case of his predecessor, Theresa May. Johnson’s contribution was instrumental in making the conspiracy that forced her out work. She also happened to Margaret Thatcher.
Contradictorily, for Johnson the scandal that filled the cup of his co-supporters had nothing to do with his behavior. Here again, he exposed the complicated relationship that Johnson has with the truth.
tory rebellion
The one who was in charge of discipline in the Conservative Party, Chris Pincher, had to resign in a matter of hours for harassing some young people while he was in high degrees of intoxication, in a private club in London.
Faced with the controversy, Johnson denied knowing of similar accusations against Pincher in the past. Therefore, he appointed him to a high position in the British Foreign Ministry.
A few hours later, the former highest-ranking official in the Foreign Ministry sent a public letter in which, among other things, he called the ‘premier’ a liar.
He claimed that Johnson was personally briefed on Pincher’s behavior. And from this letter, the dominoes, which wobbled on other occasions, but had not fallen, began to collapse.
Two key members of the government cabinet, Sajid Javid, then the health minister, and Rishi Sunak, then the finance minister, unleashed a flurry of resignations by top government officials and drama, unprecedented in British politics, that 72 hours later forced the resignation of the ‘premier’.
It was learned that Johnson, even in his most difficult moments, refused to acknowledge his political defeat and step aside.
The Conservatives have agreed to a quick process to replace the party’s leader, who becomes the new prime minister. Eight candidates presented themselves.
The finalists are Lizz Truss, the chancellor, and Rishi Sunak, who, with his resignation, brought about the downfall of Johnson.
After a six-week tour of the UK, members of the Conservative Party, some 200,000 people, have the future of the country in their hands.
The current situation is marked by the economic crisis and inflation, above 10%, which is expected to continue to rise, driven by rising energy prices.
Taxes, the big difference between Truss and Sunak
The two candidates share very similar agendas and government proposals that honor the thesis of the Conservative Party.
The gap lies in raising or lowering taxes and reflects different conceptions about managing the battered economy and about how to deal with the current crisis that is plaguing the country and that coincides with the international context.
While Liz Truss promised that there will be no new taxes and will reverse those that were raised in April, Sunak, who was finance minister, said that he will only lower them when inflation is controlled.
The conservative press, which has never concealed its political positions, as well as political experts, take for granted that Truss will be the winner. Her performance during the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia have made her highly popular.
Both Truss and Sunak have defined themselves as disciples and heirs of Margaret Thatcher. Just like the so-called ‘Iron Lady’, the new prime minister will have as a priority to save the battered economy that affects the population daily.
Change in royal tradition
The mobility problems that Queen Elizabeth II, 96, has been experiencing for several months, forced a change in the constitutional tradition of the start of the new Government.
For the first time in her 70-year reign, Elizabeth will bid farewell to the outgoing premier, and ask the incoming one to form a government on her behalf, from her Balmoral castle in Scotland.
This ceremony with which a new government starts under the political system of parliamentary monarchy has always been held at Buckingham Palace, in central London.
Johnson’s successor will become the 15th prime minister of Elizabeth II, the longest-serving British monarch in national history.
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