LONDON, 25 June. - (ANA) - Despite two resounding by-election defeats and the resignation of a key ally, Boris Johnson has made it clear that he’s not going anywhere.

 

The PM said he will “listen” to voters, but intends to “keep going” after the Conservatives lost to Labour in Wakefield and, more surprisingly, the Liberal Democrats in Tiverton and Honiton. Johnson also appears determined to shrug off the departure of Oliver Dowden, who quit as Tory party co-chair this morning in the wake of the two defeats.

 

However, speculation is mounting that the setbacks leave Johnson with diminished authority in the Commons and facing humiliation at the next general election – unless he is unseated by a second rebellion before he goes to the country.

 

The results “make it more likely the prime minister will face a renewed challenge”, said Peter Walker, political correspondent of The Guardian, because they “cast a pall over Boris Johnson’s pitch that he is an election winner”. But the long summer Commons recess will probably delay another challenge until the autumn.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/25 June 2022 — - -