B
oris Johnson faces growing pressure from Conservative MPs to resign in the public interest amid warnings that he will miss the next election.
Former Minister Tobias Ellwood and backbencher Julian Sturdy described the party as a “distraction” during a difficult time for the British.
Sturdy, a Conservative MP for York Outer, said Sue Gray’s report showed that Johnson “has presided over a widespread culture of contempt for coronavirus regulations”.
In a statement posted on Twitter, he said: “Questions are now being asked about whether the Prime Minister deceived Parliament when asked about these events.
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“Speaking to voters, it is clear that discussions about the Downing Street festivities remain a detrimental distraction at a time when our country is facing massive challenges with the return of war to Europe, a global cost crisis of life and our recovery from the pandemic is more important than ever.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“Although I thought it was important to wait for the conclusion of the Metropolitan Police investigation and the publication of the Sue Gray report, now I cannot give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt and I feel that it is now in the public interest to to him. to resign. “
Former Conservative aide Angela Richardson said the scandal has eroded public confidence in politicians and “reflects badly on all of us.”
“I am clear that if this had been a report on my leadership, I would have resigned,” the Guildford MP wrote online.
Ellwood was questioned by other Conservative MPs in the House of Commons when asked if they could continue to defend Mr Johnson’s behavior.
One question I humbly asked my classmates was, “Are you willing to defend this behavior in public every day?”
The MP said on the report on the blocking parties at number 10: “This is a report condemned on the lack of leadership, focus and discipline at number 10, the only place where you expect to find these attributes in abundance.
“I have made my point and my position clear to the Prime Minister: he does not have my support.
“But one of the questions I humbly asked my classmates was, ‘Are you willing to defend this behavior publicly every day?’
“Can we continue to govern without distractions given the erosion of confidence in the British people?
“And can we win the general election in this current trajectory? I’m being interspersed with my own people.
“If we can’t figure out what we’re going to do, then the Conservative Party’s broad church will lose the next general election.
“But my question to the Prime Minister is very clear, on the question of leadership: can you think of any other Prime Minister who would have allowed this culture of indiscipline to take place under his supervision and, if he had, he would not have done so? “Resigned?”
Mr. Johnson’s immediate fate is in the hands of Conservative MPs and if enough to write letters to provoke a vote of censure.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries told TalkTV’s The News Desk that Johnson would “absolutely” win this challenge.
Back in the House, Johnson focused his response on his prospects of winning the next election.
He said: “I think the answer is overwhelming and forceful that yes, we will continue and win the next general election because we will continue with the work.”
Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford, who accused Mr Johnson of adopting a “sinister pattern of evasion”, called on Conservative MPs to remove the prime minister.
He said: “I hope they take note of the now infamous government announcement with a desperately ill Covid patient, he said: look him in the eye and tell him never to break the rules.
“If they don’t send a letter, if they don’t remove this prime minister, how will they ever look their voters in the eye again?”
Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts said: “In this farce of a parliamentary system, it is now up to Conservative MPs … to grow a backbone and remove this moral vacuum from the Prime Minister.
“Will it save them trouble and resign?”
Mr. Johnson replied, “No.”
Conservative MP John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) asked Johnson if he believed his “partygate” statements to the Commons had “passed the test of reasonableness”.
He said: “I think the two leaders have a lot to answer for this issue. The British Army teaches you, or surely believes in its core, that you serve to lead and lead by example.
“Given the extent of the breach of the rules at number 10, do you think that what you have said in the House since then about not violating the rules passed the test of reasonableness?”
Johnson reiterated his argument that he believed he was attending work events.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Robert Jenrick (Newark) said it was “now time to turn the page” and spoke of the actions of “brilliant” officials to create the shield program in the early stages of the pandemic.
He said: “These and other achievements should mean that nothing in this report is a stain on the character of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of public officials, whether at number 10, other government departments or across the country. which helped guide this country.the pandemic.
“Secondly, although this is difficult for many to say, with a war in Europe, with an economic crisis, with the challenges that this country faces, it is not true that now is the time to turn the page and for this country, our policy? and this House to move forward ”.
SNP Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) said there had been “no attempt at remorse” by Mr Johnson, adding: by himself and he would leave. “
Labor MP Afzal Khan (Manchester Gorton) said his mother, father-in-law and mother-in-law had died of Covid-19, adding: no casualties “.