Kigali: British Prime Minister Boris johnson He vowed on Saturday to lead his Conservative Party in the next national election, which could be more than two years away, despite two by-election defeats that led to fresh calls for him to leave.
Earlier this month, Johnson escaped a vote of confidence by Conservative lawmakers, although 41% of his parliamentary colleagues voted to oust him, and he is being investigated by a committee as to whether he deliberately misled parliament. .
On Friday, Conservative candidates lost two elections in the House of Commons held to replace former Conservative office bearers who had been convicted of sexual assault and another for viewing pornography in Parliament.
The electoral defeat suggests the broad voter appeal that helped Johnson win the 2019 election may be fractured after a scandal over illegal parties held on Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdown.
Fears that Johnson could become an election liability could prompt lawmakers to take action against him, at a time when millions of Britons grapple with rising food and fuel prices.
However, Johnson said he did not expect to face another internal challenge from within his party.
Asked if he would fight for another trust vote on the last day of his trip to Rwanda for the Commonwealth summit, Johnson told reporters: “What? We just had one of those things and I’m going to get a bigger mandate than that.” Very happy. I have a parliamentary party as compared to 2019.”
Asked whether he thinks the question of his leadership has been resolved, the prime minister said: “Yes”.
Johnson’s leadership cannot be formally challenged again for another year under current party rules.
Asked whether he would lead the Conservatives in the next election, which is due no later than December 2024, Johnson said: “Will I win? Yes.”
Johnson partly attributed the by-election defeat to months of media reporting by lockdown parties at the center of the government.
“I think people were really fed up with hearing about things that I stuffed in, or supposedly filled in, or whatever, this endless, perfectly valid, but endless churning of news. ,” They said.
Earlier on Saturday, Johnson told BBC radio that he rejected the notion that he should change his behaviour.
“If you’re saying that you want me to go through some sort of psychological change, I think our listeners will know that’s not going to happen.”
Johnson’s explanation for the defeat may do little to quell despair in the Conservative Party.
A wave of resignations by senior ministers could force Johnson to oust him ahead of the next national election. party president, Oliver DowdenResigned after the defeat in the by-election.
former conservative leader Michael Howard And William Hague The latest to call for Johnson to leave are senior party figures.
Asked what his message is to Conservative lawmakers who fear they may lose their seats in the next election, Johnson said: “We have to focus on the things that matter to voters, it Fix the cost of living, on the economy.”
Johnson declined to comment on a report in The Times newspaper that he planned to get a donor to fund a £150,000 ($184,000) treehouse for his son at his state-provided country residence .
The story comes months after his party was fined for failing to accurately report a charity that helped with the renovation of their Downing Street apartment.
“I’m not going to comment on non-existent items,” Johnson said when asked if he planned to use a donor’s money to build the treehouse.
Earlier this month, Johnson escaped a vote of confidence by Conservative lawmakers, although 41% of his parliamentary colleagues voted to oust him, and he is being investigated by a committee as to whether he deliberately misled parliament. .
On Friday, Conservative candidates lost two elections in the House of Commons held to replace former Conservative office bearers who had been convicted of sexual assault and another for viewing pornography in Parliament.
The electoral defeat suggests the broad voter appeal that helped Johnson win the 2019 election may be fractured after a scandal over illegal parties held on Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdown.
Fears that Johnson could become an election liability could prompt lawmakers to take action against him, at a time when millions of Britons grapple with rising food and fuel prices.
However, Johnson said he did not expect to face another internal challenge from within his party.
Asked if he would fight for another trust vote on the last day of his trip to Rwanda for the Commonwealth summit, Johnson told reporters: “What? We just had one of those things and I’m going to get a bigger mandate than that.” Very happy. I have a parliamentary party as compared to 2019.”
Asked whether he thinks the question of his leadership has been resolved, the prime minister said: “Yes”.
Johnson’s leadership cannot be formally challenged again for another year under current party rules.
Asked whether he would lead the Conservatives in the next election, which is due no later than December 2024, Johnson said: “Will I win? Yes.”
Johnson partly attributed the by-election defeat to months of media reporting by lockdown parties at the center of the government.
“I think people were really fed up with hearing about things that I stuffed in, or supposedly filled in, or whatever, this endless, perfectly valid, but endless churning of news. ,” They said.
Earlier on Saturday, Johnson told BBC radio that he rejected the notion that he should change his behaviour.
“If you’re saying that you want me to go through some sort of psychological change, I think our listeners will know that’s not going to happen.”
Johnson’s explanation for the defeat may do little to quell despair in the Conservative Party.
A wave of resignations by senior ministers could force Johnson to oust him ahead of the next national election. party president, Oliver DowdenResigned after the defeat in the by-election.
former conservative leader Michael Howard And William Hague The latest to call for Johnson to leave are senior party figures.
Asked what his message is to Conservative lawmakers who fear they may lose their seats in the next election, Johnson said: “We have to focus on the things that matter to voters, it Fix the cost of living, on the economy.”
Johnson declined to comment on a report in The Times newspaper that he planned to get a donor to fund a £150,000 ($184,000) treehouse for his son at his state-provided country residence .
The story comes months after his party was fined for failing to accurately report a charity that helped with the renovation of their Downing Street apartment.
“I’m not going to comment on non-existent items,” Johnson said when asked if he planned to use a donor’s money to build the treehouse.