London (EFE)
Shapps, envoy of the Government to the political programs that various channels broadcast on Sunday in the United Kingdom, affirmed that “the world has turned the page” regarding the leadership of Johnson, in whose Executive he held the Transport portfolio, between 2019 and 2022.
“He himself is the one who has removed himself from the current political scene by resigning as a Member of Parliament. Now we have excellent leadership at number 10 (Downing Street, seat of government) with Rishi Sunak,” Shapps told “Sky News.”
Johnson’s resignation
Johnson resigned late Friday after receiving a letter from the House of Commons Committee on Privileges in which, according to his version, they warned him that he would be suspended as an MP for knowingly lying about parties during the pandemic.
That committee, which has not yet made its conclusions on that investigation public, will meet again on Monday and has advanced that it will release its final report “promptly”.
In the statement announcing his step down as parliamentarian, Johnson accused the committee, chaired by Labor Harriet Harman, of being biased against him.
In that regard, Shapps stated: “This is the process that the deputies have collectively decided that has to be followed in situations like this.”
In his resignation letter, the former prime minister nevertheless left the door open to return to the political front line, a possibility that some of his allies have emphasized this Sunday.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, one of the leaders of the most eurosceptic faction of the Conservatives, whom Johnson appointed Minister for Brexit Opportunities, asked today in an article in the tabloid “Mail on Sunday” that the party not block the possibility of for the ex-president to run for a seat again.
“He could easily return to Parliament in the next election,” says Rees-Mogg, who stresses that Johnson “continues to be extremely popular among the bases.”
The former Brexit negotiator David Frost expresses his doubts in an article in “The Telegraph” about the possibility that this is the end of Johnson’s political career.
“We do not know if he will return, or when. But I am sure that this story has not ended”, warns Frost, who describes the politician as “the most important prime minister of this century so far” and assures that he continues to be “more popular” than the current head of government among the conservatives who voted for Brexit.