Scots Tory leader urges PM to ‘reflect’ after vote

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has said Boris Johnson should “reflect” on his position after more than 40% of his MPS said they no longer had confidence in him.

Douglas Ross, one of four Scottish Tory MPS who said Mr Johnson should no longer be in Number 10, said the number of Conservatives who voted against the prime minister was “far higher than many people were expecting”.

On Monday, a crunch vote secured Mr Johnson’s future, for now, after 148 said they had no confidence in him but 211 serving MPS backed the prime minister.

Mr Ross said: “I think the prime minister does have to reflect on such a significant number voting no confidence in him.” Asked if Mr Johnson should resign, Mr Ross said: “Well, I think he has to look at that.”

He added: “That’s a decision for the prime minister but we know when Theresa May had a greater percentage number of MPS supporting her in 2018 when she faced a confidence vote, people were immediately saying it wasn’t good enough.

“Well, last night 41% of Conservative MPS felt that they couldn’t support the prime minister and that is a very high number.

“A hundred and forty eight is far higher than many people were expecting.”

Mr Ross said he voted for Mr Johnson to go because his actions were “unacceptable”.

“For those who set the rules to then break the rules, I think, is very difficult to come back from,” he said.

“So, as I say, it’s not the timing I would have chosen but, ultimately, there was a vote last night and I had to make a decision and that’s why I went with my original thought that the prime minister’s actions were unacceptable and I couldn’t support him.”

Mr Ross has changed his mind about Mr Johnson’s future before and when asked if it was now his final position, he said: “Yes.”

He added: “I understand how political opponents and some journalists want to frame it like that.

“The one thing that changed throughout this several months where I’ve criticised the prime minister’s actions was war in Europe.”

Of Scotland’s six Tory MPS, only Scottish secretary Alister Jack and David Duguid backed him.

Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South, said it was “now a matter of when he (Mr Johnson) will go, rather than if ”.

“If Boris Johnson thinks after last night’s vote he can command the respect and support of the country, then why doesn’t he take the short trip to Buckingham Palace, request that the Parliament and government is dissolved and go to the country and let the people decide?” he added.

“That would be the best way to resolve this situation.”

Mr Murray said tabling a motion of no confidence on behalf of opposition parties could risk “undermining” the impact of 148 Tory MPS voting against their leader.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the result was the “worst of all worlds for the Tories”.

“At a time of huge challenge, it saddles the UK with an utterly lame duck PM,” Ms Sturgeon tweeted.

She added: “For Scotland, it just underlines the democratic deficit – only two of 59 (Scottish) MPS have confidence in the PM.”