Colour-coded stacks of votes are pictured under posters with names of candidates for the Tiverton and Honiton by-election, at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre in Devon, Britain, June 24, 2022.Colour-coded stacks of votes are pictured under posters with names of candidates for the Tiverton and Honiton by-election, at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre in Devon, Britain, June 24, 2022.
Fears that Johnson could have become an electoral liability may prompt lawmakers to move against him again after months of scandal over COVID-19 lockdown parties at a time when millions are struggling with rising food and fuel prices. “I think as a government I’ve got to listen to what people are saying,” Johnson told broadcasters in Kigali after the results. “We’ve got to recognise there is more we’ve got to do.”
Some Conservatives blamed him for running poor campaigns in both the voting areas by ignoring local concerns. Several Conservative lawmakers tweeted support for Dowden, saying he was not to blame for the results in messages that suggested resurgent dissent against Johnson’s leadership. A wave of cabinet resignations could also be another route to force Johnson out before the next national election, expected in 2024. It could be called earlier, but U.S. bank Citi said in a note the likelihood of that was “limited”.