# Who wants to be Prime Minister? Resignations in Tory cabinet and Boris Johnson has resigned **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 5, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464 "2022-07-05T17:39:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/181 "2022-07-08T00:06:06Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/182 "2022-07-08T00:06:58Z")
Everyone please calm down. Avoid attacking each other. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/183 "2022-07-08T00:07:11Z")
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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/184 "2022-07-08T00:42:30Z")
> [@keeganst94](#): > > From a practical perspective, does this happen very often, I went back and checked the end-dates for Cameron and May. Cameron announced his resignation as party leader and PM on June 24, 2016, the day after the referendum, but stayed on in both positions until May was elected party leader on July 11. He resigned as PM on July 13. May announced her resignation as party leader on May 24, 2019, to be effective June 7. From June 7 to July 23, she was acting leader, when BoJo got elected. She resigned as PM on July 24. So, both continued to be leader on an interim/winding-down basis until the next leader was selected, which is not what Johnson is doing. > **[Leader of the Conservative Party (UK)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leader_of_the_Conservative_Party_(UK))** > > The leader of the Conservative Party (officially the leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the highest position within the United Kingdom's Conservative Party. The current holder of the position is Rishi Sunak, who was elected to the position on 24 October 2022, following his unopposed victory in the party's leadership election. > From the party's formation in 1834 until 1922, the leader of the Conservative Party was not a formal position; instead, there was a party leader in each ch... ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/185 "2022-07-08T00:44:54Z")
Maybe you could find an article or some cite supporting your assertion that military equipment pledged by the U.K. to Ukraine has not been delivered. I did a quick internet search, but couldn’t find anything. Ukrainian soldiers are currently in the U.K. being trained to use the heavier weaponry, such as howitzers and rocket artillery, that are being donated to them. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said this today about Boris Johnson: > [@](#): > > “We all heard this news with sadness. Not only me, but also the entire Ukrainian society, which is very sympathetic to you. My entire Office and all Ukrainians are grateful to you for your help. We have no doubt that Great Britain’s support will be preserved, but your personal leadership and charisma made it special,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized. [https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/volodimir-zelenskij-proviv-telefonnu-rozmovu-z-borisom-dzhon-76341](https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/volodimir-zelenskij-proviv-telefonnu-rozmovu-z-borisom-dzhon-76341) There are many sticks with which to beat Boris Johnson, but I don’t think Ukraine is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/186 "2022-07-08T06:06:50Z")
For example, one could use a plain and normal stick. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/187 "2022-07-08T07:14:05Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > I questioned the claim that something has been delivered, OK, it is fine to question a claim but when you have been provided with multiple seperate cites that clearly confirm the claim you would be wise to admit that the claim is valid and move on. Otherwise it damages your credibility. [Here is another list](https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ukraine-praises-wonderful-powerful-britain-as-most-sincere-friend/) of what the UK has done and the equipment it has delivered. [Here is another article](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/volodymyr-zelensky-ukraine-weapons-request-uk-crimea-russia-putin-b995934.html) in which Zelensky speaks about what various countries have done, a quote. > Asked during a briefing about military support from the West, he told reporters: “We want more than we’re being given, but we’re satisfied. > > “We cannot refuse or reject anything during the war from the biggest military aid, which is coming from the United States and the United Kingdom. Elswehere Zelensky has said, amonst other things > Boris was among those who did not hesitate for a moment whether to support Ukraine. The leadership of the United Kingdom in providing our country with the necessary assistance, especially in terms of defense, as well as the leadership in sanctions policy will remain forever in history. In another thread about the current Zeitgeist a common theme was that of unnecessary polarisation. Everything and everyone has to be euphoria or disaster, saint or a monster and once people pick a side they refuse to admit to anything that runs counter to that narrative. I think this little hijack is the perfect example of it. I can recognise that Boris has acted admirably with regards to Ukraine and _still_ think him unsuitable for the position of PM. Admitting the reality of the former does not in any way weaken the case for the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/188 "2022-07-08T07:22:01Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I can recognise that Boris has acted admirably with regards to Ukraine and _still_ think him unsuitable for the position of PM. Agree. With the additional nuance that one can approve of his actions in providing assistance to Ukraine while maintaining healthy skepticism about his motives for doing so. There is no inconsistency at all in holding different views on carefully bounded topics. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/189 "2022-07-08T07:26:39Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Agree. With the additional nuance that one can approve of his actions in providing assistance to Ukraine while maintaining healthy skepticism about his motives for doing so. There is no inconsistency at all in holding different views on carefully bounded topics. I agree as well. Replace the “providing assistance for Ukraine” with any other current affairs issue and I think your comment stands for pretty much any politician that has ever been in a position of power. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/190 "2022-07-08T08:37:49Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > My bet is that his party doesn’t learn. In the USA, GOP potential candidates for 2024 prez are trying to show they can out-trump trump. I appreciate your pessimism given the current state of the Tories, but I actually don’t think the current Conservative Party is anything like what’s coming out of the Republicans right now. There’s a majority who are loudly critical of Boris - it’s why he’s out - compare that to the near silence from the Republicans over Trump. Everyone’s pretty sick of the sleaze, so I suspect they’ll vote in a candidate as a stability choice who at least doesn’t cause international humiliation. That discounts people like Raab, Truss and Patel (crossing everything I’ve got). > [@DrDeth](#): > > Question- can the Queen do anything? Not without a constitutional crisis, no. I imagine she’s hiding under a bed somewhere waiting for this to blow over. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/191 "2022-07-08T08:45:51Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Maybe you could find an article or some cite supporting your assertion that military equipment pledged by the U.K. to Ukraine has not been delivered. Maybe you could provide an article or a cite that the tunnel to Belfast via the Isle of man, with a tunnel of roundabouts under it, has not been delivered. You probably can. Why? Because it took about three years to shoot it down. But three months after this magical and fanciful claim was made? Nope. Because you it’s hard to prove a negative. Yet those articles which claim to show delivered, still only say pledged. And tories in the UK claim every tank blown as their credit, even the ones before any of these pledges. And yet again. Every since previous lie was just a load of guff to protect his arse. But suddenly, the man funded by Putin, has delivered, despite articles not saying he’s delivered. Zelenskyy? Of course he’s going to talk up every piece of help he gets. He’s desperate to live and his country not to be invaded. But we’re getting down to training soldiers rather than donating ships and weapons like claimed, and even at that, I bet the UK is being paid for the training too. I’ll pop back and find [Arlene Foster](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/arlene-foster-radio-4-today-interview-boris-johnson-general-election-hmrc-dup-a9238551.html), leader of the DUP, a supporter of Johnson, backing him over Brexit, right up to the point he f\*\*ked her good. How Boris Johnson works. - Person A turns up wanting to make sure the Irish border stays open to maintain trade and peace. Boris Johnson says “YES. Of course, I will really make that stop happening” - Person B turns up wanting to make sure that no border in the Irish sea will happen, which means there will be a border in Ireland. He tells them “I completely agree, trust me, that will never happen” - After they go away he does nothing. Nothing at all to help them. His job was convincing them to go away happy (this stage for Zelensky) - In the end he’s sued into doing something, which screws over person B. Then he denies that’s going to happen. Then he denies he told them anything. Then he avoids the media, doesn’t talk about it, and ultimately hides out in a fridge in the most [bizarre moment of modern politics](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/11/boris-johnson-hides-in-fridge-to-avoid-piers-morgan-interview). Oh that was just the once. Nope, he was doing it as foreign secretary under Mays government, he was London Mayor for 8 years before he was ejected from that, taking credit from Ken Livingstone for the bikes (renamed them Boris bikes) and Olympics. [Here’s an interesting article on that.](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/16/total-chaos-boris-johnson-london-mayor) Sure this time the stuff has been delivered. Despite any absence of the fact., ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/192 "2022-07-08T08:55:02Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > Sure this time the stuff has been delivered. Despite any absence of the fact Quote the articles that show he has delivered nothing to Ukraine. It really is that simple, anything else you say is attempted distraction, a load of whataboutary. We all know he lies, we all know that there are things he has promised and not delivered (he is a politician, quell surprise) but we all know the fact that, on Ukraine at least, what has been promised has been and will be provided. Multiple other people here have shown you multiple articles that list _what has actually been delivered_, you’ve given nothing except a vague claim. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/193 "2022-07-08T11:48:37Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/194 "2022-07-08T11:49:14Z")
Thread is a complete mess. Will review later. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464/195 "2022-07-08T12:25:37Z")
Ongoing conversation over here: [Boris steps down - who will be the next British Prime Minister?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boris-steps-down-who-will-be-the-next-british-prime-minister/967538) So I am going to leave this one closed. The two overlap quite a bit. * * * * * * Do not bring the Ukraine bit up in that thread. It went a long way towards derailing this one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-be-prime-minister-resignations-in-tory-cabinet-and-boris-johnson-has-resigned/967464.md?page=9)