Special Hour: Boris Johnson on the brink

07/06/22 • 56 min

A major political crisis is underway in the United Kingdom. “Keep Calm and Carry On” seems to be Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s continuing motto, despite yet another scandal, top ministerial resignations, losing recent local elections, and plunging popularity. One snap poll conducted today found that seven out of 10 adults want Johnson to resign. And yet again, the familiar question: how long can he cling on? It’s a playbook Americans know well; just like Donald Trump, Boris Johnson has stepped far out of mainstream expectations for a political leader and flung up such volumes of scandal, overloading the news cycle and the public. But the old Boris razzle dazzle is wearing thin in Westminster and in the country at large, as voters grapple with the cost of living crisis and transit strikes amid a deficit of good governance. As more and more of Boris Johnson’s own MPs urge him to resign, we dedicate the hour to this very British scandal.

Featuring: Former Conservative Party MP Rory Stewart, CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson, Open Society Foundations President Mark Malloch-Brown, Former Communications Director for Tony Blair Alastair Campbell, historian Margaret MacMillan.

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Previous Episode

Fear and firepower in the Donbas

The last city under Ukrainian control in the Luhansk region has fallen. It’s both a strategic and a symbolic win for Moscow, which vowed to “liberate” the Donbas region – the eastern part of Ukraine where the conflict with Russian-backed separatists first started in 2014. Ukraine’s military now says Russian forces are preparing renewed offensives towards cities in the Donetsk region, the other part of the Donbas still controlled by Kyiv. As Ukraine’s control of the region crumbles, Phil Black reports from Siversk in the Donbas.

Also on today's show: Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, singer/songwriter Carole King, personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary

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Next Episode

Inside Boris Johnson's resignation

In the end, it took nearly 60 government resignations, more personal scandals than one can count, and a painful amount of drama and dysfunction. But the moment finally came today when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he would step down – except he wants to stay on until his successor is chosen, which could be months from now. He painted his legacy in terms of getting Brexit done, the Covid vaccine rollout, and Britain’s support for Ukraine. But Johnson’s time in office will surely also be remembered for the tsunami of self-inflicted crises, breaking the law over Partygate, and his many attempts to cling onto power. Alistair Burt served under Boris Johnson at the UK Foreign Office and joins the show to discuss.

Also on today's show: CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, historians Catherine Haddon and Simon Schama.

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