British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference in New Delhi, India, April 22, 2022. Ben Stansall/Pool via REUTERS
NEW DELHI: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday he would still be prime minister in October, addressing doubts about his future after he was fined by police for breaching strict lockdown rules that he set during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johnson's personal standing has plummeted in recent months, primarily over revelations of parties held at his Downing Street office during lockdowns. Opponents say he misled parliament about the events.
Asked during a news conference in India whether he would still be prime minister in October - when he hopes to have completed a free trade deal between the two countries - Johnson replied: "Yes".
Johnson's visit to India to talk trade and diplomacy has been overshadowed by the domestic crisis over whether he is fit to lead the country.
On Thursday, the threat of a rebellion in parliament forced him to accept that he should be investigated by lawmakers over whether he lied to the House of Commons in his initial response to allegations of rule-breaking.
The number of lawmakers in his own party calling for him to quit is growing. Johnson repeated his message that the public wanted the government to concentrate on priorities such as easing a cost-of-living squeeze.
"I think that what people want in our country is for the government to get on and focus on the issues on which we were elected," he said.
