The resignation of Conservative MP Nigel Adams on Saturday is another blow for Conservative British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He is the third Tory MP to quit with immediate effect in two days, triggering another by-election. The MP for Selby and Ainsty is an ally of Boris Johnson but did not link his resignation to that of the former PM. Writing on Twitter, the 56-year-old said that his local party selected an "excellent new parliamentary candidate" on Friday. "It has been an honor to represent the area where I was raised, educated & I want to thank my constituents for their wonderful support since 2010," he wrote. Adams' resignation followed Johnson's stepping down as an MP on Friday evening claiming he was "forced out of Parliament" over Partygate. Friday night Johnson saw in advance a report by a committee over whether he misled Parliament, and in an explosive statement called the committee a "kangaroo court". His backer Nadine Dorries also resigned on Friday. A third MP — Adams — resigned on Saturday meaning the Conservatives are now facing three by-elections Labour deputy leader Angela Raynor called Johnson a "coward" who "doesn't accept responsibility for his own actions". Rob Watson, UK political correspondent, has told BBC News that Adams was often described as "the unofficial chief of staff", an absolute loyalist to Johnson. He then asked: "Are we about to see open civil war within the Conservative Party?" Watson went on to say that looking at the state of the economy and high levels of inflation, it is hard to think of anything worse for Sunak than having to have three by-elections. "Inevitably they always turn out to be mini popularity tests for the government," Watson added. But what does this latest resignation mean for the PM? Watson answered: "Johnson has declared war on him, he needs to consider if he wants to declare war back on him. There is one question now: Is a civil war within the ruling party preventable?" On Friday, Johnson's resignation triggered a by-election in his west London seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. He has a majority of 7,210, with Labour coming second in the 2019 general election. Labour had hoped a strong performance at the next general election could turn the seat red — but now it looks like they will get a crack at taking the constituency sooner than that. The surprise exits of Boris Johnson — and fellow Tory MP Dorries —have triggered by-elections for the seats they held. No date has yet been set for when the people of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, as well as Mid Bedfordshire, will head to the polls. But a vote will be held between 21 and 27 working days from when Tory Chief Whip Simon Hart sets the ball in motion. No candidate from any of the three main political parties have yet thrown their hats into the ring to contest Dorries' former Mid Bedforshire seat. But the starting gun has sounded in Uxbridge and South Ruislip with Labour councilor Danny Beales and Blaise Baquiche of the Lib Dems set to battle it out. Johnson's achievements include "delivering on Brexit" and "the fastest vaccine rollout in the world", a minister said, paying tribute to the ex-PM. Andrew Bowie said Johnson's decision to quit was "purely a decision for the former prime minister", adding he can't say any more since he has not seen the Partygate report. Bowie said he won't "second guess" whether Johnson's decision to go is a move designed to damage Sunak. Asked about speculation that Johnson could stand for re-election in Dorries' now-vacant Mid Bedfordshire constituency, he refuses to be drawn on whether the Conservative Party would stop Johnson standing. "I don't think anybody can second guess the former prime minister and what he may or may not do in the future, that's purely a matter for the former prime minister." Also, Research company YouGov has done a snap poll in the UK to see what people think of Johnson's resignation. According to the results, 62% think that it was right for him to resign while 65% think he knowingly misled Parliament on Partygate — 72% believe that Johnson has likely committed further COVID offenses. Amongst Conservative party voters, 46% said that it was right for Johnson to resign while 33% of them say it wasn't. Almost half of Tory voters — 49% — think he knowingly misled Parliament while 32% think he didn't, and 59% of Tory voters think he likely committed further COVID offenses. — BBC
