How can Boris Johnson survive this one? That’s the question all of Westminster is asking today after the resignations of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid. A number of other colleagues have chosen to follow them out of the door: you can keep track of resignations here. But it’s not just ministers who want Boris gone: more than a dozen backbenchers have now gone public with their frustrations. This follows last month’s no-confidence vote when 148 Tory MPs voted against Johnson’s leadership; a number that has only increased since then. Below is the growing list of those who have gone public with their demands for Johnson to go…
MPs who have lost faith in Boris Johnson’s leadership and/or called for the PM’s resignation:
1. Aaron Bell, Newcastle-under-Lyme – 12 January: ‘The breach of trust that the events in No 10 Downing Street represent, and the manner in which they have been handled, makes his position untenable.’
2. Tim Loughton, East Worthing and Shoreham – 15 January: ‘The reason for my conclusion in calling for him to stand down is the way that he has handled the mounting revelations in the last few weeks. Obfuscation, prevarication and evasion have been the order of the day’.
3. David Davis, Haltemprice and Howden – 19 January: ‘You have sat too long here for all the good you have done. In the name of God, go.’
4. Andrew Mitchell, Sutton Coldfield – 31 January: ‘When he kindly invited me to see him 10 days ago, I told him that I thought he should think very carefully about what was now in the best interests of our country, and of the Conservative party. I have to tell him that he no longer enjoys my support.’
5. Peter Aldous, Waveny – 1 February: ‘After a great deal of soul-searching, I have reached the conclusion that the Prime Minister should resign.’
6. Tobias Ellwood, Bournemouth East – 2 February: ‘I don’t think the Prime Minister realises how worried colleagues are in every corner of the party, backbenchers and ministers alike that this is all only going one way.’
7. Gary Streeter, South West Devon – 2 February: ‘I cannot reconcile the pain and sacrifice of the vast majority of the British Public during lockdown with the attitude and activities of those working in Downing Street.’
8. Anthony Magnall, Totnes – 2 February: ‘I have no confidence in the Prime Minister because his actions are overshadowing the work of excellent ministers and colleagues, and this can no longer continue. And so I’ve therefore submitted my letter to the chairman of the 1922 committee.’
9. William Wragg, Hazel Grove – 2 February: ‘I cannot reconcile myself to the Prime Minister’s continued leadership’.
10. Nick Gibb, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton – 4 February: ‘To restore trust, we need to change the prime minister.’
11. Nigel Mills, Amber Valley – 13 April: ‘I don’t think a Prime Minister can survive or should survive breaking the rules he put in place.’
12. Mark Harper, Forest of Dean – 14 April: ‘Those in charge have to obey the same laws as everyone else.’
13. Stephen Hammond, Wimbledon – 18 April: ‘Any Minister who has knowingly misled the House of Commons should resign.’
14. Steve Baker, Wycombe – 21 April: ‘The Prime Minister should just know: the gig’s up.’
15. Craig Whittaker, Calder Valley – 27 April: ‘Do the right thing and resign.’
16. Sir Roger Gale, North Thanet – 24 May: ‘I believe that the PM has misled the HoC from the despatch box. That is a resignation issue. I have made my own position clear.’
17. Julian Sturdy, York Outer – 25 May: ‘It is now in the public interest for him to resign.’
18. Steve Brine, Winchester and Chandler’s Ford – 25 May: ‘Rule makers cannot be law-breakers.’
19. John Baron, Basildon and Billericay – 26 May: ‘I’m afraid the Prime Minister no longer enjoys my support.’
20. David Simmonds, Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner – 26 May: ‘Accordingly, it is time for him to step down.’
21. Bob Neill, Bromley and Chislehurst – 27 May: ‘Trust is the most important commodity in politics, but these events have undermined trust in not just the office of the Prime Minister, but in the political process itself. To rebuild that trust and move on, a change in leadership is required.’
22. Alicia Kearns, Rutland and Melton – 27 May: ‘My position remains unchanged since January, and the Prime Minister continues not to hold my confidence.’
23. Jeremy Wright, Kenilworth and Southam – 30 May: ‘Accountability and restoring faith in good Government require something more.’
24. Elliot Colburn, Carshalton and Wallington – 30 May: Said he was ‘especially appalled’ at reports of poor treatment of security and cleaning staff in No. 10.
25. Andrew Bridgen, North West Leicestershire – 30 May: ‘There is obviously and rightly still a lot of anger about the culture in No 10 during the lockdown period.’
26. John Stevenson, Carlisle – 31 May: ‘The only way we are to draw a line under all the recent issues.’
27. Jesse Norman, Hereford and South Herefordshire – 6 June: ‘Neither the Conservative Party nor the country can afford to squander the next two years adrift and distracted by endless debate about you and your leadership.’
28. Jeremy Hunt, South West Surrey – 6 June: ‘We are no longer trusted by the electorate’.
29. John Penrose, Weston-super-Mare – 6 June: ‘You have breached a fundamental principle of the ministerial code – a clear resigning matter’.
30. Douglas Ross, Moray – 6 June: ‘I have heard loud and clear the anger at the breaking of the Covid rules.’
31. Sir Robert Syms, Poole – 6 June: ‘Although a secret ballot, I intend to vote no in the confidence vote this evening.
32. John Lamont, Berwickshire – 6 June: ‘Tonight, I have voted against the Prime Minister in the Vote of Confidence’
33. Andrew Bowie, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine – 6 June: ‘Tonight, and with a heavy heart, I have taken the extremely tough decision to vote against the Prime Minister.’
34. David Mundell, Dumfriesshire – 6 June: ‘After a difficult couple of years and listening to the views of my constituents, I voted tonight for a fresh start and new leadership for our country.’
35. Dehenna Davison, Bishop Auckland – 6 June: ‘Weighing it all up, I voted against the Prime Minister today’
36. Caroline Nokes, Romsey and Southampton North – 12 January: ‘He either goes now, or he goes in three years time.’
37. Karen Bradley, Staffordshire Moorlands – 13 April: ‘But I do wish to make it clear that if I had been a minister found to have broken the laws that I passed, I would be tendering my resignation now.’
38. Angela Richardson, Guildford – 25 May: ‘I am clear that had this been a report about my leadership, I would resign.’
39. Paul Holmes, Eastleigh – 27 May: ‘I have now resigned from my governmental responsibilities as a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Home Office.’
40. Nickie Aiken, Cities of London – 30 May: Said Johnson should submit himself to a vote to ‘end speculation’ about his future.
41. Dan Poulter, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich – 30 May: ‘A minister who knowingly misleads Parliament should resign.’ Says he won’t reveal if he’s submitted a letter.
42. Andrea Leadsom, South Northamptonshire – 30 May: In a letter to constituents, Leadsom pointed the finger at Boris Johnson for ‘unacceptable failings of leadership’ over the partygate scandal.
43. Tom Tugendhat, Tonbridge and Malling – 30 May: ‘I have made my position clear to those who need to hear it.’
44. Kate Griffiths, Burton – 31 May: Says she ‘remains angry about the actions of the prime minister and his senior staff’ and that there are still ‘unanswered questions.’
45. Simon Fell, Barrow and Furness – 1 June: In an email to a constituent, he said that Sue Gray’s findings were ‘a slap in the face’ and that ‘apologising after the fact is insufficient.’
46. Caroline Dineage, Gosport – 1 June: ‘Systemic change is needed.’
47. Laurence Robertson, Tewkesbury – 6 June: ‘It’s now time for a new approach.’
48. Rishi Sunak, Richmond – 5 July: ‘We cannot continue like this.’
49. Sajid Javid, Bromsgrove – 5 July: ‘The party is bigger than any one individual.’
50. Andrew Murrison, South West Wiltshire – 5 July: ‘Your position has become unrecoverable. I urge you to resign.’
51. Bim Afolami, Hitchin and Harpenden – 5 July: ‘It’s become clear that the time has come for him to stand down.’
52. Saqib Bhatti, Meriden – 5 July: ‘My conscience will not allow me to continue to support this administration.’
53. Jonathan Gullis, Stoke-on-Trent North – 5 July: ‘I can no longer serve as part of your government.’
54. Nicola Richards, West Bromwich East, – 5 July: ‘I am loyal to the Conservative party, which is currently unrecognisable to me.’
55. Virginia Crosbie, Ynys Môn – 5 July: ‘The sheer number of allegations of impropriety and illegality is quite simply making your position untenable.’
56. Theo Clarke, Stafford – 5 July: ‘I take allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously.’
57. Sally-Ann Hart, Hastings – 5 July: ‘Considering the further revelations that have come to light, I am no longer able to support Boris Johnson.’
58. Alex Chalk, Cheltenham – 5 July: ‘The time has come for fresh leadership.’
59. Laura Trott, Sevenoakes – 6 July: ‘Trust in politics is, and must always be, of the upmost importance, but sadly in recent months this has been lost.’
60. Will Quince, Colchester – 6 July: ‘I have no choice but to tender my resignation.’
61. Robin Walker, Worcester – 6 July: ‘Our great party has become distracted from its core missions.’
62. Chris Skidmore, Kingswood – 6 July: ‘This is an extremely grave situation that is tantamount to an effective cover up of sexual abuse.’
63. Lee Anderson, Ashfield – 6 July: ‘Integrity should always come first.’
64. Robert Halfon, Harlow – 6 July: ‘I gave the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt before… I can’t bring myself to do this again.’
65. Laurence Robertson, Tewkesbury – 6 June: ‘It’s now time for a new approach.’
66. Anne Marie Morris, Newton Abbott – 28 May: ‘The country needs strong leadership.’
67. Neil Hudson, Penrith and the Border – 14 June: ‘I categorically will not defend the indefensible.’
68. Felicity Buchan, Kensington – 6 July: ‘You have lost the confidence of my constituents and me.’
69. John Glen, Salisbury – 6 July: ‘The country deserves better.’
70. Tom Hunt, Ipswich – 6 July: ‘I strongly believe that the situation which occurred last week could have been avoided and I also think that the handling of it subsequently was deeply disappointing.’
71. Anthony Browne, South Cambridgeshire – 6 July: ‘If he does not resign, he must be removed.’
72. Victoria Atkins, Louth and Horncastle – 6 July: ‘I can no longer pirouette around our fractured values.’
73. Jo Churchill, Bury St Edmunds – 6 July: ‘The country and party deserve better’
Got something to add? Join the discussion and comment below.
Get 10 issues for just $10
Subscribe to The Spectator Australia today for the next 10 magazine issues, plus full online access, for just $10.
Comments
Don't miss out
Join the conversation with other Spectator Australia readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.
SUBSCRIBEAlready a subscriber? Log in