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Highland MSP and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross tells Boris Johnson his position is 'no longer tenable' after the Prime Minister admitted attending a gathering at Downing Street in May 2020


By Scott Maclennan

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson pictured with Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross during a visit to Baxters' Highland Village in Fochabers in July 2020.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson pictured with Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross during a visit to Baxters' Highland Village in Fochabers in July 2020.

Highland MSP and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has called for Boris Johnson to resign over the so-called partygate scandal.

Earlier, the Prime Minister faced MPs in the Commons where he offered and apology and claimed the gathering was "technically within the rules."

However, his claim that he "believed implicitly that this was a work event" was met almost with instant mockery.

Now Mr Ross – who retained his seat as an MP after being elected as an MSP in May – said the prime minister's position was "no longer tenable."

The Scottish Tory leader said he had a "difficult conversation" with Mr Johnson on Wednesday afternoon.

He said he will now write to the 1922 Committee to register his lack of confidence in the Prime Minister.

"He is the prime minister, it is his government that put these rules in place, and he has to be held to account for his actions," he said.

Earlier, during Prime Minister's Question SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford also called for Mr Johnson's resignation.

He said: "The public suffered pain and anguish being kept apart from the families and all the time the Prime Minister was drinking and laughing behind the walls of his private garden.”

"The public overwhelmingly thinks that the Prime Minister should resign. Trust has been lost and the public will not forgive or forget.

“If the Prime Minister has no sense of shame, then the Tory backbenchers must act to remove him.

"They know the damage is done, the message is clear - remove this unfit Prime Minister from office and do it now.”

Related Story: POLL: Should Prime Minister Boris Johnson resign?


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