Article author:
Associated Press
Danica Kirka
London (AP) — The latest scandal that hit British Prime Minister Boris Johnson deepened on Tuesday, with former supreme officials at Johnson's office. He tells the truth about how he handled allegations of illegal activity against senior members of his government, who publicly stated that he was not.
Johnson learns about previous allegations of misconduct by MP Christopher Pincher since he resigned as floor leader on Thursday in a complaint that Pincher had groped for two men in a private club. I've been pressured to explain what I'm doing.
The government's explanations have changed over the past five days, with Johnson initially vice-chief whipping Pincher. By Monday, a spokesman said Johnson was aware of allegations that he had "resolved or did not proceed to a formal complaint."
It was incompatible with Simon McDonald, the highest civil servant of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2020. In a very unusual move, he said Tuesday that the Prime Minister's Office has not yet told the truth.
McDonald's said in a letter to parliamentary members on standards that he received complaints about Pincher's actions in the summer of 2019, shortly after Pincher became Foreign Minister. The investigation supported the complaint and Pincher apologized for his actions, McDonald's said.
McDonald's also challenged the proposal that Johnson could be dismissed because he was unaware of the allegations, resolved or was not formally prepared. ..
"The original line 10 isn't true and the fix isn't accurate yet," McDonald wrote. "Mr. Johnson was directly informed about the start and results of the investigation.
" There was a "formal complaint." The motion was "resolved" only in the sense that the investigation was completed. Mr Pincher was not exonerated. Therefore, it is wrong to characterize the claim as "unfounded".
When asked about the letter, Justice Minister Dominic Raab said he was unsure if Johnson was informed of the Foreign Ministry's investigation. Rab was then Foreign Minister and worked with McDonald's to conduct an investigation.
"That's news for me," Rab told the BBC when asked about McDonald's claim that Johnson was informed about the investigation. "I was unaware of that. I don't know if it is practically accurate."
The Minister was forced to publicly announce the Prime Minister's denial. After that, the latest revelation fueling dissatisfaction within the Johnson Cabinet only changed the explanation the next day.
The Times of London on Tuesday released an analysis of the situation under the heading "A false claim puts Boris Johnson at risk." The
scandal occurs a month after Johnson survives a vote of no confidence and more than 40% of Conservatives resolve to dismiss him. Johnson's leadership concerns were fueled by changes in the Prime Minister's reaction to months' allegations of government-breaking political parties that ultimately resulted in 126 fines, including those imposed on Johnson. ..
Two weeks later, Conservative candidates were badly beaten in two by-elections, filling parliamentary vacancies and frustrating Johnson's leadership.
Pincher resigned on Thursday from the Deputy Leader, an important position in enforcing the party's discipline, and made the Prime Minister "drink too much" the night before, "confusing himself and others. ".
Johnson initially refused to take further steps to suspend the pincher from the Conservatives, but he did not forgive after a formal complaint about the groping allegations was filed with parliamentary authorities. rice field.
Critics suggest that Johnson was slow to respond to the scandal because he didn't want to risk forcing Pincher to resign.
Even before the pincher scandal, there were swirling suggestions that Johnson might soon face a vote of no confidence.
In the coming weeks, conservative lawmakers will elect new members to the party's parliamentary rules-making committee. Some candidates have proposed to support changing the rule to allow another vote of no confidence vote, which has been banned for 12 months under the existing rule.
Johnson's longtime critic Roger Gale, a senior Conservative lawmaker, said he would support a change in the rules of the Conservative Party's 1922 committee to allow voting.
"Mr. Johnson has sent a minister (in some cases a cabinet minister) to lie on his behalf to defend the defenseless people for three days. "I'm not allowed to continue," he told the BBC. "This Prime Minister has ruined the reputation of a proud and prestigious party for honesty and dignity, and it is unacceptable.