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"But resigning without being forced on the grounds of a self-identified moral lapse is astonishingly rare."

It just happened en-masse, and has been happening to Johnson regularly this year. The ministers resigned because they didn't want to continue supporting Johnson and doing the things he wanted them to do. So how can you say it's rare?

"Everyone currently leaving Johnson's cabinet knew of his objectionable character before signing on, for example"

Ah, I see. Mind reading skills. Because you personally don't like Johnson, nobody who is now resigning and explicitly stating it is for honor reasons can possibly be telling the truth. That isn't a charitable or fair reading of what's happened.

"The modern Conservative party mostly has a reputation for corruption ... I teach political communication in a British university"

If that's meant to increase your credibility it has the opposite effect. An anti-conservative academic, what a shock. And one who teaches politics no less, whilst claiming (presumably to students) that none of the many ministers resigning for clearly communicated honor reasons are actually doing so, thanks to aforementioned mind reading skills.

[pmyteh]

They're not resigning because they've suddenly realised he's a wrong 'un, they're leaving because he's become an electoral liability. But I suspect you know that - it's how politics works essentially everywhere, including the United States, for parties of all ideological persuasions.

If not, you might want to start with this short article in the Spectator[0] (one of the Conservative house journals, which Johnson used to edit) by Toby Young (a Tory) fifteen years ago (after his rise to prominence, but before his rise to power). The man's a scoundrel and his party have always known it. And even generally honest politicians aren't going to write "We gave you a go because we hoped you'd win the election, but we underestimated just how unpopular you'd get - please go now" in a resignation letter.

[0]: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/having-your-cake-eating-...

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You're projecting your own views onto other people without any evidence. In their letters they make it clear that they do now feel his behaviour has become unacceptable, and that's why he's become an electoral liability. They're years away from an election so your argument that it's all about electoral liability lacks explanatory power (why now) and boils down to "politicians innit", which isn't really an argument at all.

If you're a columnist or random commentator, fine, argue whatever you like. It's kind of absurd that you teach politics though. Surely such people are supposed to work hard to be as neutral as possible. I don't believe for one second you're politically neutral on this topic.