LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Johnson has been dealt a new setback after a senior Tory contributor declared that he is ‘past point of no return.’
Boris Johnson will be hoping this morning that his mini-reshuffle yesterday will permit him to reset his premiership after weeks of upheaval in which he has faced mounting calls to resign after episodes of lockdown parties in Downing Street and condemnation for his remarks about Jimmy Savile.
But, with just hours till PMQs, the leader has been dealt a new blow in the form of statements from a guy who has given more than £3 million to his party and £500,000 since Mr Johnson became leader.
“Politicians should go into politics to do good for their country,” said John Armitage, who described the current political environment as “tremendously disturbing” to the BBC.
“That is the most compelling incentive to pursue a career in politics. It isn’t believed it has anything to do with your desire to reach the top of a snakes-and-ladders game.”
He said he found the absence of honour inherent in current politics terribly troubling,” adding that leaders “should go” if they lose their “moral authority.”
“Well, personally yes,” Mr Johnson said when asked if he was “beyond the point of no return.”
Mr Johnson said the Labour leader had “failed to prosecute” the notorious paedophile during his stint as director of public prosecutions.Â
It is a claim that has circulated widely among far-right groups online despite Sir Keir having not been involved in any decisions around Savile’s case.
Around two-thirds of respondents – including more than half of Tory voters – believe the PM is to blame for the Labour leader being encircled and attacked by a crowd on Monday, and a similar number believe he should publicly apologise and retract his remarks.
Minister refuses to say whether Johnson will apologise for his slur against Savile, but maintains he has ‘clarified’ his remarks.
Mr Argar reiterates the government line on Prime Minister Savile remarks, telling Sky News that Boris Johnson was referring to Sir Keir’s “leadership role” at the CPS at the time.
Just as Sir Keir, very properly, holds him to responsibility for his job as the government’s leader, he continues.
This does not imply personal responsibility for individual decisions, but it is the context, as the PM had stated.
“And I’ll be honest with you, I suspect that’s what you will hear from the prime minister later,” he said.
Number 10 has been attempting to draw a parallel between Sir Keir’s role as head of the CPS at the time of the decision not to prosecute Savile and Mr Johnson’s role as prime minister during a series of parties held in Downing Street despite lockdown rules that meant they were in violation of COVID rules.
