Nigel Adams, an ally of Boris Johnson, has become the third Conservative member of the British Parliament to resign in the past day, thus triggering a by-election in his constituency.
Nigel Adams announced on Saturday, via his personal Twitter account, that he is standing down with “immediate effect” in support of Johnson, who had resigned before him. His resignation will now lead to a by-election in his Selby and Ainsty constituency.
“Yesterday, Selby Conservatives selected an excellent new parliamentary candidate,” Adams tweeted. “I’ve today informed the chief whip that I will be standing down as a Member of Parliament with immediate effect.”
I feel honored to have represented the area where I was raised and educated,” he added.
Prior to resignation of Nigel Adams, Johnson and his former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, both members of the Conservative Party, had announced their resignation from Parliament
Johnson quit as a Member of the Westminster Parliament on Friday as he launched a fierce and scathing attack against the parliamentary panel investigating him over the “Partygate” scandal.
The former British PM, who led the Tories to a gratifying 80-seat majority in the 2019 general elections, slammed the Commons Privileges Committee investigating him about whether he lied to MPs, giving them his assurances over hearty parties held in Downing Street during the period of coronavirus lockdowns.
Johnson said the seven-person panel was on a “witch hunt” and compared it to a “kangaroo court”.
Johnson accused the Conservative-majority parliamentary panel, chaired by veteran Labor MP Harriet Harman, of showing “bias.”
“Drive me out of Parliament”
Johnson accused the panel of aiming to “drive him out of Parliament” in a move motivated by a desire to reverse Brexit.
“I am ‘bewildered and appalled’ that MPs are forcing me out of Parliament in an anti-democratic manner,” he said. He further claimed that those MPs had intended from the beginning to “find me guilty, regardless of the facts.”
Johnson dismissed evidence that showed he lied to the MPs about the parties in No. 10 and said he “corrected the record as soon as possible” after receiving information about the matter.
In the meantime, the Commons Privileges Committee said the cross-party panel of lawmakers will meet on Monday to conclude the inquiry.
“The committee will meet on Monday to conclude the inquiry and to publish its report promptly,” the panel announced.
The Partygate scandal, alongside a slew of other scandals, led to a ministerial rebellion in July last year.
Johnson left office and resigned as PM, although persistent rumors suggested that he desired another shot at the top job.
Rishi Sunak
Johnson’s close ally and his cabinet’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, who is currently the PM aiming to repair the UK’s economy following Liz Truss’ short stint as the leader of the Conservative Party and prime minister.
Truss, who had served as Johnson’s top diplomat and succeeded him after his July ouster, also faced forced resignation by fellow Tories after just six weeks in office.
During her short stay at Downing No.10, Truss tampered with the ailing UK economy, catapulting it into a free fall down the abyss of complete obliteration.
By proposing a plan to cut taxes for the wealthiest, while providing for Government revenues for public spending by borrowing from the banks, Truss had lit the fuse for an economic nuclear bomb. Her plan quickly forced her to take it back, as it had already prompted more than a dozen fellow Conservatives to publicly demand his untimely resignation.
The ruling Conservatives, which have been in power for more than a dozen years, are now facing a serious challenge from the opposition Labor Party.
UK’s Labor Party said Johnson was a “coward” to quit Parliament.
