UK: Embattled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced dramatic developments on Wednesday over the so-called “partygate” scandal that has threatened his grip on the leadership and his own Conservative Party.
Johnson, 57, attempted to deflect attention from the crisis around damaging allegations of parties held in apparent breach of lockdown restrictions at Downing Street by urging MPs to wait for the outcome of an internal inquiry.
His announcement to end tough COVID-19 Plan B restrictions from next week amid a stabilising of the Omicron variant impact on hospitals was also timed to placate his backbench MPs.
But the atmosphere in Parliament remained highly charged, with a former Tory minister leading calls for him to step down.
"I will remind him of a quotation which may be familiar to his ear: Leopold Amery to Neville Chamberlain: You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. In the name of God, go," said David Davis, a former Brexit Minister.
Just moments before the start of the Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session in the House of Commons, Conservative MP Christian Wakeford announced his defection to the Opposition and proceeded to dramatically walk across the floor to the Labour Party benches.
Labour Leader Keir Starmer welcomed the defection of the MP for Bury South, inviting other Tories who felt let down by the leadership.
- THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
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