No cause for concern

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday he was not worried by press reports of an alleged plot within the ruling Conservative Party to oust him as head of the British government amid a Tory defeat in a by-election to the British House of Commons.

"The answer to that would be. No, not concerned," Johnson said at a press conference broadcast by Sky News television.

At the same time, he admitted that the Conservatives' result in the by-elections in two constituencies in England could not be called brilliant.

Johnson said he hoped that during his absence from London his fellow party members would focus on implementing the Conservative Party's agenda to improve life in the country. "I hope that in London ministers are minding their own business and tackling the rising cost of living and following our programme of change and reform for the good of the state," he pointed out.

It is worth noting that by-elections to the British House of Commons were held on Thursday in the constituency of Tiverton and Honiton in the south-west of England, as well as in Wakefield in the north.

Following the announcement of the election results, Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden announced his resignation from his post. Political commentators in Britain point out that Johnson's own position also weakened sharply after the vote. The prime minister's popularity is declining because of the 2020-2021 party scandal at his Downing Street residence, as well as the country's growing economic crisis.

In early June, ordinary Tories secured a vote of confidence in Johnson over the party scandal. Members of the Conservative parliamentary faction expressed support for the prime minister, although 41 per cent of caucus members opposed the vote.

British analysts estimate that the result has seriously worsened Johnson's position and could push Conservative MPs to force the prime minister out of office in the coming months. A vote of confidence in the prime minister is allowed no more than once a year, but the rule could be reviewed by members of a specialist parliamentary committee.