Global InformationPremiership of Boris Johnson information
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 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Premiership of Boris Johnson 24 July 2019 – 6 September 2022 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
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| Cabinet |
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| Party | Conservative |
| Election | 2019 |
| Seat | 10 Downing Street |
 Coat of Arms of HM Government | |
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Mayor of London
European Union referendum
Foreign Secretary
Party leadership campaigns
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
First ministry and term
Second ministry and term
Bibliography
In popular culture
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Boris Johnson's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom began on 24 July 2019 when he accepted an invitation of Queen Elizabeth II to form a government, succeeding Theresa May, and ended on 6 September 2022 upon his resignation. As prime minister, Johnson served simultaneously as First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. He also served as Minister for the Union, a position created by him to be held by the prime minister. Johnson's premiership was dominated by Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the cost of living crisis. His tenure was also characterised by several political controversies and scandals, being viewed as the most scandalous premiership of modern times by historians and biographers.[1]
Johnson defeated Jeremy Hunt in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election on 23 July 2019, and was appointed prime minister the following day. The political turmoil over Brexit, begun during May's premiership, continued into the early months of Johnson's premiership. This included a controversial prorogation by Johnson which was overturned by the Supreme Court and deemed unlawful. With insufficient parliamentary support for his Brexit plans, Johnson called the 2019 general election, in which he won a landslide victory, the party's largest seat share since the 1987 general election, and the biggest share of the vote since the 1979 general election; many of their gains were made in long-held Labour Party seats, dubbed the "red wall".[2][3] The election result gave Johnson the mandate he sought from the electorate to formally implement the UK’s departure from the European Union on 31 January 2020, beginning an eleven-month transition period.
Less than two months after the 2019 general election, cases of COVID-19 had reached the UK, and Johnson himself was hospitalised with the disease in March 2020.[4] The government responded to the pandemic by enacting emergency powers and widespread societal measures including several lockdowns, and approved a vaccination programme which began in December 2020.[5] Reception for Johnson's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was mixed.[6] The media later reported that there had been social gatherings by the Conservative Party and government staff which contravened COVID-19 restrictions.[7] Johnson was personally implicated, and he, his wife Carrie Johnson, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, were given fixed penalty notices by the police in April 2022, becoming the first prime minister to be sanctioned for a criminal action while in office.[8] Public dissatisfaction over the events led to a decline in public support for Johnson, the government led by him, and the Conservative Party as a whole.[9]
Johnson responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by imposing sanctions on Russia as well as providing Ukraine with over £10 billion in military aid as well as billions of pounds in economic and humanitarian aid.[10] The publishing of the Sue Gray report in May 2022 and a widespread sense of dissatisfaction led in June 2022 to a vote of confidence in his leadership among Conservative MPs, which he won.[11][12] In late June 2022, the Conservative MP Chris Pincher resigned as deputy chief government whip after an allegation was made that he had sexually assaulted two men.[3] Johnson initially refused to suspend the whip from him, and his spokesperson said Johnson had not been aware of "specific allegations" against Pincher.[13] On 4 July, Johnson's spokesperson said that Johnson was aware of allegations that were "either resolved or did not proceed to a formal complaint" at the time he appointed him.[14] Several ministers resigned on 5 July, including Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid.[15] Following dozens of government resignations, Johnson announced on 7 July his intention to resign. He remained in office until his resignation on 6 September. He was succeeded by foreign secretary Liz Truss.[16][17]
- ^ "The most controversial PM since Lloyd George: historians on Boris Johnson". The Observer. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ Elgot, Jessica (1 September 2019). "Johnson could sacrifice majority by withdrawing whip from rebel MPs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.; "Election results 2019: Boris Johnson returns to power with big majority". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ a b Lee, Joseph; Nevett, Joshua (1 July 2022). "Chris Pincher: Tory whip resigns saying he 'embarrassed himself'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Boris Johnson moved to intensive care as symptoms worsen". BBC News. 7 April 2020. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ Murray, Jessica (8 December 2020). "Covid vaccine: UK woman becomes first in world to receive Pfizer jab". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ Ghosh, Bobby (7 July 2022). "The Verdict on Boris Johnson's Legacy Is Mixed". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Partygate: Boris Johnson facing questions after photos emerge". BBC News. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ Langford, Eleanor (12 April 2022). "Boris Johnson And Rishi Sunak Have Apologised After Receiving 'Partygate' Police Fine". Politics Home. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Top civil servant Simon Case quits No 10 party probe amid rule breach claims". BBC News. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ "UK Gives £1 Billion to Ukraine to Help Fund Offensive Operations". Bloomberg.com. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "No confidence vote: What happens next for PM Boris Johnson?". BBC News. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Boris Johnson wins no-confidence vote despite unexpectedly large rebellion". The Guardian. 6 June 2022.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (4 July 2022). "Chris Pincher: a timeline of allegations and investigations". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (4 July 2022). "Johnson aware of some claims about Chris Pincher in February, No 10 admits". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Cabinet resignations: Who's staying and who's going? Ministers reveal if they are backing Boris Johnson after Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid quit". Sky News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ "Boris Johnson resigns as British prime minister". Reuters. 7 July 2022 – via www.reuters.com.
- ^ "Boris Johnson resigns: Five things that led to the PM's downfall". BBC News. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.