Isn’t it time for a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson?

THE current spat between Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson (“Call for ‘full disclosure’ as Truss defends PM in row over flat costs”, The Herald, April 26) has some parallels with the recent political psychodrama which engulfed Alex Salmond and

Nicola Sturgeon. Two former colleagues, who had worked together for years to achieve significant political success, now find themselves completely alienated. Accusations and conspiracy theories abound as the aggrieved party decides the time has come for revelation and retribution.

At this point I suspect the two sagas will follow a very different course. The First Minister faced two investigations. The first was a forensic examination of the facts by a senior QC from Ireland followed by an eight-hour interrogation, broadcast on live television, by a Scottish Parliamentary committee.

I will be interested to see what sort of investigation is mounted into the Prime Minister’s behaviour by the Westminster Parliament but I guarantee Boris Johnson will not face an all-day grilling from senior MPS. These serious accusations of cronyism and financial sleaze demand careful evaluation but they are likely to be pushed aside and ignored by the large Tory majority in the Commons.

However, there is perhaps one Westminster Tory who will hold Boris Johnson to account, the fearless Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives. Before either of the Scottish investigations into the First Minister had reported, and even before Ms Sturgeon had given evidence at Holyrood, Mr Ross decided it was time to act. He raised his red flag, cried “foul” and called for her immediate resignation. When this predictably failed he launched a vote of no confidence which also collapsed.

I now look forward to Mr Ross applying his principles to the accusations surrounding the Prime Minister and calling a vote of no confidence at the first opportunity. Iain Gunn, Elgin.