Boris Johnson is under growing pressure | Currently Europe | '
After a loud dispute between Boris Johnson and his partner, the pressure on the British ex-Foreign Minister grows. High-ranking Tory members criticized Johnson's silence on the dispute that dominated the front pages of British newspapers on Saturday. Johnson is considered the favorite in the race for Prime Minister Theresa May's succession. However, recent surveys show that support for him has declined.
On Thursday, Johnson was considered by 36 percent of voters as the best potential prime minister, while 28 percent supported Hunt. In a recent poll following the police deployment on Friday, Hunt passed 32 per cent of the ex-Foreign Minister, who received only 29 per cent. Among conservative voters, Johnson's popularity dropped from 55% to 45%, while Hunt's approval rating rose from 28% to 34%.
Apparently, he now has cause for joy: Jeremy Hunt
Johnson had been visited by police in his apartment in London early Friday morning. The trigger was apparently a vociferous confrontation with his girlfriend Carrie Symonds, the neighbors have heard according to media reports. According to police information, the caller was "worried about the well-being of a neighbor".
Better silence than commenting
Johnson, who is currently divorcing his second wife, attempted to channel the conversation from his private life to politics on Saturday at a party outside Birmingham's party base. "I do not think people want to hear about such things," Johnson said in Birmingham, where he presented himself alongside members of the conservative Tory party to his adversary, acting Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt. He preferred to point out his view of Britain's exit from the EU. "We have to make Brexit," he said, promising to prepare Britain for a "no deal" Brexit if the EU did not reach an agreement.
Former British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind criticized Johnson's silence on the incident. "The fact is, there was a police visit, so they do not just say 'no comment'," the conservative politician told BBC Radio 5. The UK's Secretary of State for Europe, Alan Duncan, disagrees with Johnson's response. The ex-Foreign Minister now has a "big question mark over his head," Duncan told the newspaper "The Guardian." He added that Johnson had shown a "lack of discipline" throughout his career.
Hunt also sees his opponent in an obligation to comment on the incident. "Someone who wants to become prime minister should answer questions about everything," he told Sky News on Sunday. Trade Minister Liam Fox, a backer of Hunt, told BBC 1, "I think it's always easier to just make a statement."
Friendly welcome in Birmingham
The last word, however, is that of the 160,000 party members who have to decide by the end of July by postal vote between Johnson and Hunt. Johnson's support for the Tories also seemed unbroken at the first election meeting of the two remaining candidates in Birmingham. Johnson's appearance was acknowledged with a big round of applause. When the moderator asked the ex-mayor of London questions about the domestic incident, the crowd reacted with loud interjections. Hunt also received a warm welcome in Birmingham. He promised that if the EU did not come to an agreement on Brexit, the withdrawal would be "without a deal".
A video published by The Observer newspaper could put additional pressure on Johnson. In it, the former chief strategist of US President Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, claims that he participated last year in Johnson's resignation speech as Foreign Minister. Johnson and the US right-wing ideologue got to know each other when they were both in office and are said to have met unofficially last summer. Johnson then said his "so-called relationship" to Bannon was a "delusion of the left."
kle / haz (afp, rtr)
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