Senior Tory councillors in Scotland yesterday called for Boris Johnson to resign ahead of May’s local elections.
The Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure from his own party over Partygate revelations, with 15 Tory MPs now publicly calling for him to resign as prime minister.
He is also facing a grassroots revolt in Scotland where the Conservatives had their best local election results in decades in 2017, gaining 161 council seats and pushing Labour into third place. They currently power share or govern as a minority in seven of Scotland’s 32 councils, but candidates fear Johnson’s plummeting popularity following lockdown parties in Downing Street could damage their chances in May.
Full list of Tory MPs who have called on Boris Johnson to resign
Argyll and Bute Council is led by a coalition of Tory and independent councillors and deputy leader Gary Mulvaney, who welcomed Johnson’s Tory leadership win in 2019, is now calling for him to resign.
He said: “Irrespective of how you look at the issue, it has happened on his watch, in his office, in his home, and really there are no excuses. I’ve been a supporter of Boris, but to me it’s indefensible when so many people followed the rules. So I’m quite clear the prime minister should stand down.”
In East Dunbartonshire Council, led by a coalition of Conservative and Lib Dem councillors, Conservative joint leader Andrew Polson said: “I think Boris Johnson’s position is untenable, and not only that, he is causing a severe distraction to the political scene across the United Kingdom. I think he should go.”
Scottish Borders Council is also led by a coalition of Conservative and independent councillors and Councillor Shona Haslam, who stood down as council leader in November, also said Johnson should resign. She said: “Any clear breach of rules by the PM is a matter of principle and as such he should stand down.”
Aberdeen City Council is led by a coalition of Conservative, Labour and independent councillors. The nine Labour councillors were suspended by their party in 2017 after forming a coalition with the Tories. Douglas Lumsden stepped down as council co-leader the day after he was elected as an MSP last year, but is continuing as a councillor until May. He said: “As a councillor and MSP I fully support the stance taken by Douglas Ross in calling for the prime minister to resign.”
Last night Johnson moved to shore up his No. 10 operation by announcing two new senior appointments. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay will become his chief of staff, while journalist Guto Harri will become director of communications.
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