The sh*t has hit the fan, is Johnson now finished?

[rebbonk]

How Johnson thinks he can hang on until a replacement is appointed is beyond belief. Starmer's threat for a vote of no confidence is a non starter, so the 1922 committee are going to need to have yet another word in Johnson's ear.

Cue Sir Graham Brady visiting again with a bottle of whisky and loaded revolver?

[dutchman]

Tory leader "relieved" to see Boris go as Coventry by-election looms



The Leader of the Coventry Conservative party said he is "relieved" following Prime Minister Boris Johnson's resignation. Cllr Gary Ridley said the shock news of Johnson's departure today ended "a difficult chapter." It comes as Coventry prepares for a by-election on July 14.

Johnson announced he was stepping down in a speech outside Number 10 at 12.30pm. The Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip was facing pressure to go after his party's confidence in him plummeted this week.

More than 50 elected members of his government resigned in just two days, in the wake of the Chris Pincher scandal. Leader of the Coventry Conservatives, Gary Ridley, told CoventryLive that he was "relieved" at the news.

In a statement on behalf of the local Conservative Group, he said: "It’s become apparent in recent days that the PM needed to resign.

"I’m relieved that has now happened ending a difficult chapter. This is an anxious time for everyone; Covid is still with us, we face a soaring cost of living, and have a major conflict in Europe.

"My hope now is that we can move swiftly to establish new leadership to unite the party and tackle the many challenges this country faces."

It's not yet clear how Johnson's departure will affect the fortunes of the local Conservatives. Westwood in Coventry was one of around 400 Conservative council seats lost across the UK last May.

A clear test of the impact of Johnson's resignation in Coventry will be the Binley and Willenhall by-election next week.

The seat of the late Cllr John Mutton is expected to be a straight fight between Labour and the Tories. Cllr Mutton, who died days after being re-elected last May, had won his seat with 41% of the vote - while the Conservative candidate got 29%.

The by-election will take place on July 14 and results will be published online during the count that night.

[dutchman]

Strange, I don't recall Ridley expressing any disatisfaction with the Tory leadership before now?

[rebbonk]

Most politicians are opportunists, most will jump on any bandwagon that they think will improve their chances of survival come the next election. The days of honesty, truthfulness and integrity in politics have long gone; if they ever existed.