Tory MP says PM’S position is untenable
CONSERVATIVE MP Andrew Bridgen has submitted a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister, saying his position has become untenable.
It comes after Boris Johnson apologised to MPS earlier this week for briefly attending a party held in the garden of 10 Downing Street in May 2020 when the country was under tough Covid restrictions.
He said he had “believed implicitly” that it was a work event, and so technically was not a breach of the rules.
North West Leicestershire MP Mr Bridgen, once a supporter of Mris Johnson, said it was a matter “of knowing not just right from left but right from wrong”.
Writing for the Telegraph, he said: “Claims by the Prime Minister that he did not know that he was attending a party seem at best misguided and at worst cynical.
“But it isn’t the hurt caused to me or my fellow Conservative MPS that is important, but rather the hurt caused to all those families who went without, whose loved ones died alone, whose funerals went unattended and whose livelihoods were lost that Mr Johnson has truly failed.
“Sadly, the Prime Minister’s position has become untenable.
“In the summer of 2016, on the eve of the Brexit referendum, I was privileged to welcome Boris Johnson to campaign with me for Leave in the market town of Ashby in my North West Leicestershire constituency.
“Boris has a character that few others possess. He is charismatic and even far away from his London base ordinary folk were queuing up for selfies or vying to catch a word and shake his hand.
“Boris played an instrumental role in delivering the Leave vote and it was clear when we needed to fulfil the democratic demand of the British people he was the man to deliver.”
The Telegraph said it believes as many as 30 letters have been submitted by Tory MPS seeking to trigger a leadership election. Under party rules a total of 54 are needed.
“Leadership is not just about the job title, or even making big decisions; it is equally about having a moral compass. Of knowing not just right from left but right from wrong,” said Mr Bridgen.
“As more and more revelations have been published and I fear more are yet to come out, it is clear that not only were rules broken in Downing Street, but that the initial response was to stretch the truth about them being broken too.”
Saying that his letter had been written with a “heavy heart”, Mr Bridgen said the PM should resign now and leave with “some semblance of grace”.
“In years to come, Boris will be remembered as delivering Brexit and guiding us through a pandemic,” he said. “His legacy shouldn’t become one mired in sleaze but rather one of knowing when the time is right to leave the stage.”