Boris Johnson’s departure from life as an MP ahead of the publication of the Partygate report plays out across Saturday’s front pages, which are filled with a mixture of acrimony, triumph and predictions of further “Tory bloodletting”.
The Guardian focuses on the reason for his decision to resign as MP, noting that the privileges committee found he misled parliament and recommended a lengthy suspension from the House of Commons. It finds a spot lower down for the reaction to Rishi Sunak approving Johnson’s honours list, regarded as rewarding those involved in the Partygate scandal.
Guardian front page, Saturday 10 June 2023: Johnson quits over report into Partygate pic.twitter.com/f9OkJqeHUV
— The Guardian (@guardian) June 9, 2023
The Times is among a few that go with the “party’s over” angle in their headline. It gives its main picture to a Johnson ally, Donald Trump, who is facing his own troubles over the retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home.
The Times: The party’s over now: Johnson quits as MP #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/3WEgv2p0vj
— George Mann 🫧⚒️🫧 (@sgfmann) June 9, 2023
The Daily Record says: “Party’s over, Boris”, and says he resigned over a “damning Partygate probe report into his lockdown antics”. It says he refused to take blame for his own downfall.
Daily Record: Party's over Boris #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/wrVg3jxB35
— George Mann 🫧⚒️🫧 (@sgfmann) June 9, 2023
The Telegraph plays it relatively straight with the headline “Johnson quits as MP over Partygate” but notes his accusations of a “kangaroo court” and biased investigation in its subhead and intro.
📰The front page of Saturday's Daily Telegraph:
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 9, 2023
'Johnson quits as MP over partygate'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/aoe7ATNxq3
The Daily Mail gives full prominence to Johnson’s version of events with the headline: “Boris: I’ve been forced out by a witch-hunt” and lists out his grievances in a series of bullet points. It notes the “prospect of a fresh round of Tory bloodletting”.
Saturday’s @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/SGHTjHYthj
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) June 9, 2023
The Daily Express, a longtime and vocal Johnson supporter, says “Boris quits! ‘Kangaroo court forces me out’”. Its tweet foreshadows a “Tory civil war”, which could create a fresh headache for Sunak.
Tomorrow's front page: Watch out Sunak! Warning MORE MPs to follow Johnson to exit door sparking Tory civil war #tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/NZPiPv779q... pic.twitter.com/IYwUXmhF9n
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) June 9, 2023
The Daily Mirror says “Johnson quits over Partygate” and calls him variously a “shamed ex-PM” and “deluded Tory”, questioning his assertion that he has been forced out.
Saturday's front page: Johnson quits over Partygate#TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/FLqqKVOXUF pic.twitter.com/gvhED6sU9k
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 9, 2023
The Sun has “Bojo: I quit” and reports that Sunak now faces a “knife-edge by-election”.
On tomorrow's front page: a raging Boris Johnson tonight sensationally quit as a Tory MP after learning the findings of a "kangaroo court" inquiry into Partygate https://t.co/lnbfHH6A6k pic.twitter.com/1SKnTPTKm2
— The Sun (@TheSun) June 9, 2023
The i casts it as Johnson v Sunak, with the headline “Boris Johnson declares war on Sunak as he quits Parliament”. It notes the former PM’s attack on Sunak’s policies and handling of the post-Brexit era, and his leaving open the possibility of an attempt at returning to politics.
Saturday’s front page: Boris Johnson declares war on Sunak as he quits Parliament#tomorrowsfrontpagestoday
— i newspaper (@theipaper) June 9, 2023
Latest: https://t.co/UXUbf3jOdy pic.twitter.com/WCAk0CCICc
The National has perhaps the most pointed front page, with a brooding picture of Johnson, and the headline: “Arrogant to the end.”
The National: Arrogant to the end #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/9bah0Hqk6t
— George Mann 🫧⚒️🫧 (@sgfmann) June 9, 2023
The Financial Times gives Johnson a slot further down its front page, with the headline: “Johnson blames ‘partygate’ inquiry as he quits as MP and trigger by-election.”
Just published: front page of FT Weekend UK edition Saturday June 10 https://t.co/kN6VMfOphT pic.twitter.com/7tknDJX0HM
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) June 9, 2023
