Politicians welcome PM quitting
Ayrshire politicians have spoken of their ‘relief’ at the departure of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The under-fire PM confirmed last Thursday morning that he will stand down as leader of the Conservative Party.
Johnson’s departure comes in the wake of 59 resignations from his own government ministers, or their Permanent Private Secretaries (PPSs).
The mass resignations follow the Chris Pincher row.
The PM appointed Pincher as deputy chief whip earlier this year, but admitted he did so despite being aware of misconduct allegations against him, prompting a huge wave of criticism over his judgement.
South Scotland Conservative List MSP Brian Whittle said he was “glad” the PM accepted that he couldn’t remain in office after a string of “poor decisions.”
Mr Whittle said: “He made some good decisions at the height of the pandemic and around the UK’s swift and strong support for Ukraine, but those cannot excuse his repeated errors of judgement on issues like support for MPs accused of unacceptable behaviour and parties in Downing Street during lockdown.
“We should now move quickly to restore stability to the government and appoint a new leader who can draw a line under Boris Johnson’s time as Prime Minister.
“The last election delivered a big majority for the Conservative Party, and I still believe that the Conservative Party are best placed to lead the UK through this cost-of-living crisis and deliver the change the country needs.
“It’s time for a return to the kind of ambitious, practical leadership that focussed on the issues that matter most - dealing with the cost-of-living crisis and strengthening the economy, investing in our infrastructure, recovering from the pandemic, moving towards net-zero and standing up for Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom.”
Mr Whittle added: “As we begin the search for a new leader of the UK Conservative Party and Prime Minister, I look forward to hearing how the candidates propose to deliver on those ambitions and improve the lives of people across the UK, including in my South Scotland Region.”
But Ayr SNP MSP Siobhian Brown said Johnson and his Tory colleagues knew he was unfit to hold public office.
“They knew that Boris was a liar when they voted for him,” she added.
“They resign now only because he is a threat to their own careers.
“He will be replaced by another Prime Minister that Scotland did not vote for. Westminster is broken. It’s time for independence.”
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley SNP MSP Elena Whitham, said: “Whichever Tory MP becomes the new Prime Minister doesn’t change the fact that the Westminster system is broken and Scotland can choose a different path through independence, not with Westminster governments that do not command the support of people in Scotland.”
And South Scotland Labour List MSP Carol Mochan said: “It matters little who is at the head of the Tory party, the ideology stays the same. You will not stop the damage they are doing to this country until they are voted out of office.”
Fellow South Scotland Labour MSP, Colin Smyth, said: “People across our region will breathe a sigh of relief that this charlatan will soon be out the door of No.10 but the fact that in his resignation speech he still said he should have been allowed to continue says all you need to know about Boris Johnson.
“Boris Johnson should have quit months ago and local Tory MPs and MSPs who continued to back him when he was breaking the law time after time are complicit in inflicting his carnage on our country. We should never forget that time after time they all backed him and more damagingly his policies.
“We need not just a change of Prime Minister, but a General Election so we can have a change of Government.”