Supporters of Boris Johnson turned to Conservative MPs, who called on the prime minister to resign after an investigation into whether the prime minister lied to parliament.
Connor Burns, Northern Ireland’s minister, said there was no question Johnson was resigning because of Partygate and that the prime minister would “restore a bond of trust with the British people”.
After an amazing day in Westminster, during which the government capitulated to allow a third investigation into Johnson’s denials of Partygate, Burns insisted the prime minister was “outspoken” and acted “in good faith.”
But Tobias Eloud, the conservative chairman of the municipality’s elected defense committee, called on colleagues to “take matters into their own hands” and rectify once and for all the “lack of discipline, focus and leadership” in №10.
The fight looks set to continue as Scotland Yard continues its investigation into parties violating Covid’s No. 10 rules. Police have so far issued 50 fixed penalty notices.
Tobias Eloud called on Tory MPs to “take matters into their own hands”. Photo: Tayfun Salcı / Zuma Press Wire / Rxe / Shutterstock
Rejecting criticism of Johnson from some of his own asses, Burns said he had “colleagues in parliament who never really supported the prime minister.”
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “If the prime minister gets off Westminster Bridge and goes to the top of the water, they will say he can’t swim. This is a fact.
“The reality is that just two years ago we won a majority of 80 seats, the largest since Margaret Thatcher in 1987.
He added that Johnson had told MPs “I have a business I want to do” with this large majority.
Burns added: “What he also said was that the events on Downing Street and the fine actually doubled his determination to restore trust with the British people.
He told Sky News that “there is no question whether the prime minister will leave” and that Johnson was confident that when all investigations were over, “it will be clear that he was honest, he told the house in good faith that he believed the rules have been observed. “
Elwood, meanwhile, called on disgruntled Tory MPs to present a letter of no confidence to Johnson. A total of 54 letters are needed to challenge the leadership.
“It is acknowledged that every MP now realizes that it is up to us to take responsibility for this,” Elwood said. “Because I fear that the lack of discipline, focus and leadership at number 10 during this period of blockade has led to a huge breach of trust with the British people.
“This is causing such long-term damage to the party’s brand and it is difficult to repair. Can it be fixed in time for the next general elections?
“So all the Conservative MPs are obliged to take matters into their own hands, and I think, as I said, I think things will start here, especially since we have more bad news to follow.
Elwood apologized in December 2020 for speaking at a club in central London at an event declared by the organizers to be a “Christmas party” for 27 guests, when indoor mixing was not allowed.
He said that when his presence at the rally – organized in part by the Iraqi embassy – proved to be “fully compatible with Covid”, he understood that “perceptions matter during this challenging time”.
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