Boris Johnson is in the ICU with coronavirus. What happens if he’s too ill to govern?
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to an intensive care unit on Monday afternoon, a Downing Street statement said.
Johnson asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab “to deputize for him where necessary,” The Washington Post reported, citing the statement.
The Prime Minister’s condition has “worsened” and he was admitted to the ICU with “persistent symptoms of coronavirus,” according to Axios.
After Johnson was hospitalized for coronavirus, it was announced that Raab will deputize for him in the interim at a meeting on Monday, according to Business Insider.
Raab has been in Johnson’s government and is the First Secretary of State, Business Insider reported. It means that Raab would eventually replace Johnson if needed.
Who is Dominic Raab?
Raab is a supporter of Brexit and supported 2016 Vote Leave, the Brexit campaign, according to The Guardian.
Raab was elected to parliament in 2010 and was promoted to Cabinet as Brexit secretary in 2018, Business Insider reported.
He is also trusted by Johnson and resigned in protest to former Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, according to The Guardian.
Raab has taken a coronavirus test and it was negative despite “having come down with a cough,” according to The Guardian.
What is Raab’s involvement in government?
After May announced that she was stepping down, Raab ran to become Conservative leader and prime minister, according to The BBC.
Raab couldn’t get the 33 Member of Parliament votes he needed to stay in the race and eventually gave his support to Johnson, The BBC reported. Raab was appointed Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State, which is “effectively deputy prime minister,” according to The BBC.
Raab previously sparred with May when he said some feminists were “obnoxious bigots” and that men were getting “a raw deal,” according to The BBC. In turn, May said he was fueling “gender warfare.”
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 12:57 PM.