UK Conservative lawmaker Nigel Adams quits, triggering new by-election

Nigel Adams has become the third Conservative member of the British Parliament to resign in the past day, triggering a by-election in his constituency. 

Adams, who is an ally of Boris Johnson, announced on Saturday that he will be standing down with "immediate effect."

Media said the move was in support of Johnson who had resigned before him.

His resignation, which triggers a by-election in his Selby and Ainsty constituency, was announced on his personal Twitter account.

“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."

“It has been an honor to represent the area where I was raised (and) educated,” he added.

Yesterday, Selby Conservatives selected an excellent new parliamentary candidate.

I’ve today informed the chief whip that I will be standing down as a Member of Parliament with immediate effect.

It has been an honour to represent the area where I was raised, educated &

1/2

— Nigel Adams 🇬🇧 (@nadams) June 10, 2023

Prior to Adams' resignation, 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.

Ex-British prime minister Boris Johnson resigns as MP

Britain

Johnson said the seven-person panel was on a "witch hunt" and compared it to a "kangaroo court".

The panel, however, has reportedly reached the conclusion that Johnson had actually lied to MPs when he declared that COVID rules had been followed in Downing Street following reports that lockdown-busting parties were held during the pandemic.

The Conservative-majority parliamentary panel, chaired by veteran Labor MP Harriet Harman, has been accused by Johnson of “bias”.

Johnson said the panel had aimed to “drive me out of Parliament” in a move he said was motivated by a desire to reverse Brexit.

I am "bewildered and appalled" at being "forced out, anti-democratically" from Parliament by MPs which he said had set out from the onset 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.

In Britain, it could be either of two picks for PM: Johnson or Sunak

The next PM must secure 100 nominations from lawmakers to run in a contest to choose the leader of the ruling Conservative Party.

Johnson was forced to leave office and quit as PM, although rumors persisted that he wanted another shot at the top job.

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 been Johnson’s top diplomat, succeeded him after his July ouster, was also forced to resign 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. She was quickly forced to take back her plan which 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.

Labor is blaming the Tories for the increase in cost-of-ling prices and soaring inflation in the UK.

According to a Saturday report by The Guardian, the latest polls show that Labor has a clear lead over Tories in more than 100 battleground constituencies.

Labor has a 10 percent swing from the Conservatives in the 144 key constituencies that will decide the next election scheduled for early 2025.

According to the new analysis, leader of the UK Labor Party Keir Starmer is on course to win in the next elections with about 117 new seats for Labor in England and Wales to become the new Labor British Prime Minister.

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