The chairman of the Conservative Party in Britain, Oliver Downden, today resigned from his post to Prime Minister Boris Johnson after a series of “very poor election results” after the Tories lost two local elections.
These defeats «are the latest in a series of very bad results for our party», said Dowden in his letter, adding that «we cannot continue as if nothing has happened».
«Someone has to take responsibility and I came to the conclusion that, under the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to remain in my position,» he said.
Johnson's Conservative Party suffered painful defeats in two local elections, particularly in a constituency in the South West of England which was considered “safe” as a Tory stronghold for over a century.
The Conservatives lost to the centrist Liberal Democrats the seat in Tiverton and Honiton, which has voted for the Tories since 1997, when it was created, by a margin of more than 6,000 votes.
The Labour Party won the seat in Wakefield (north of England), a traditional stronghold of the party which had lost in the December 2019 election, which was swept by the Conservatives.
The Wakefield by-election was triggered by the resignation of MP Imran Khan, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old teenager.
The constituency was in Labour hands continuously from 1932 to 2019.
In Tiverton and Honiton, voters were asked to elect a replacement for Neil Parrish. The 65-year-old MP resigned after admitting to looking at pornographic material on his mobile phone in the House of Commons chamber.
Two weeks after Johnson survived, not surprisingly, an impeachment motion on “partygate”, the loss of two House of Commons seats to the Tories in two politically significant constituencies threatens to aggravate the negative atmosphere against him.
Although under party rules it cannot face impeachment for a year, MPs concerned about their future may shorten the time limit and call for a new vote earlier.
«Clear verdict»
Richard Ford, the Liberal Democrat candidate who won in Tiverton and Honiton, said in his acceptance speech that Johnson should “step down and step down now.”.
«Every day that Boris Johnson remains entrenched in his position brings more shame, chaos and neglect.».
The British prime minister himself yesterday Thursday dismissed the possibility of resigning if the Conservative Party loses two seats, commenting that it is common for ruling parties to lose in mid-term local contests.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said in a statement that «Wakefield has shown that the country has lost confidence in the Tories. This result is a clear verdict that the Conservative Party has run out of energy and ideas.».
