Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
New call for ‘liar’ Johnson to quit
NEW photos of Boris Johnson raising a glass to staff during lockdown prove he is a liar and should resign, according to Scottish political leaders.
The prime minister was hit with renewed demands to quit Downing Street moments after ITV published four images showing him with a drink in hand beside a table covered in wine and snacks.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP said: “Every day that Boris Johnson remains in office is an insult to the millions of people who made sacrifices and had their lives turned upside down by the pandemic. If he had even a shred of dignity or integrity he would have resigned months ago.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also called for his resignation and said: “This proves that Boris Johnson lied to Parliament and lied to the people.”
Scottish Greens joined the clamour for the PM to step down. And Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole Hamilton said it’s time for Tories in Scotland to make clear their lack of confidence.
“Every day Boris Johnson remains in office will do more damage to public trust and to our democracy,” he said.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has already U-turned on his earlier demand for the UK leader to go – but admitted last night the pictures look
“unjustifiable and wrong”. However, in a statement the Moray MP said: “These images will rightly make people across the country very angry.
“The prime minister must outline why he believes this behaviour was acceptable. To most, these pictures seem unjustifiable and wrong.”
ITV News published the pictures yesterd ay, saying they were taken at a leaving party for then-director of communications Lee Cain on November 13 2020.
Eight days earlier, Mr Johnson had imposed England’s second national lockdown. People were banned from social mixing, other than to meet one person outside. Mr Johnson was not fined by the Metropolitan Police over the event seen in the images.