UK’s Johnson says takes ‘personal responsibility’ for by-election loss

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, said Friday that he accepts “personal responsibility” for his Conservatives’ stunning by-election defeat in a seat they had never lost before, prompting questions about his leadership.

“I take personal responsibility,” Johnson declared after weeks of scandals and disputes culminated in his party’s previously enormous majority in North Shropshire, central England, being reversed.

His ruling Conservatives enjoyed a big majority in North Shropshire, central England, just two years ago, but that was wiped out by the Liberal Democrats on Thursday, intensifying the mutiny among Conservative MPs.

The 57-year-old was already dealing with a string of scandals and setbacks, including about 100 of his members protesting the government’s introduction of vaccination permits for huge events in parliament on Tuesday.

His authority has also been harmed by allegations of corruption and rumors that he and his staff violated coronavirus limits last Christmas, while a new wave of Omicron cases has compounded his problems.

On Thursday, the authorities reported roughly 89,000 new illnesses, the second consecutive daily high.

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