British newspapers join pile-on calling on Boris Johsnon to depart

The front pages of Britain’s newspapers on Thursday highlighted the precarious position of scandal-hit Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during prime minister's questions in the Commons in London on Wednesday. Picture: AFP

The front pages of Britain’s newspapers on Thursday highlighted the precarious position of scandal-hit Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The normally staunchly pro-Conservative Daily Express spoke of Mr Johnson’s “last stand”, with The Daily Telegraph calling the Prime Minister “mortally wounded” and The Times saying the Tory leader was “fight(ing) for his life”.

On the other end of the political spectrum, The Guardian condemned Mr Johnson as “desperate and deluded”.

The Sun newspaper said Mr Johnson had told colleagues they would have to “dip (their) hands in blood” to push him out of office.

Allies of the Prime Minister said he was going to “fight on”, with his parliamentary private secretary James Duddridge telling Sky News that Mr Johnson was in a “buoyant mood”.

The former head of Downing Street’s policy unit, Camilla Cavendish, told the BBC that Britain no longer had “a functioning ­government”.

Mr Johnson only narrowly survived a no-confidence vote among Conservative MPs a month ago, which ordinarily would mean he could not be challenged again for another year.

But the influential 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs is seeking to change the rules, with its executive committee announcing on Wednesday it would elect a fresh line-up of members next week.

Mr Johnson’s refusal to resign means he is likely to face a second confidence vote as soon as Monday.

AFP