Prime Minister Boris Johnson is battling for his survival amid a crisis which has gripped his government over three months, with a growing number of lawmakers calling publicly for a change at the top to rebuild trust with voters.
First it was parties during strict coronavirus lockdowns, at a time when many people could not say
farewell to dying relatives. Later he further angered colleagues when he falsely accused the leader of the opposition of failing to prosecute a child sex abuser when he was in charge of public prosecutions. That, critics said, shows Johnson is incapable of changing, or showing true remorse.
However, senior members of Conservative Party urged challengers to to rein in their ambitions and focus instead on steering Britain through the biggest plunge in living standards in a generation. Many people were struggling with soaring energy costs and food inflation, which were 'the number one priority'.
While Johnson has apologised after the parties, the prime minister has since said he accepts that Labour leader Keir Starmer was not personally to blame for failing to prosecute the television celebrity Jimmy Savile in his former job. But he refused to apologise.
