The SNP has challenged Douglas Ross to match his rhetoric with action by submitting a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister, after Boris Johnson admitted he attended the boozy rule-breaking lockdown party at Downing Street.
In an interview with STV Scotland Tonight, the Scottish Tory leader was asked that “If he (Boris Johnson) was at the party he can’t continue as Prime Minister, can he?”
Douglas Ross replied:
“No – because it’s a breach of the guidance.”
When asked again that “If the Prime Minister was at that party, he has to go?”
Ross replied:
“Yes, because you cannot put in place these rules, you cannot be the head of the government that is asking people to follow these rules, and then break those rules yourself.”
Under Tory party rules, a vote of no confidence is triggered if 15% of Tory MPs write to Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, to formally push for one.
Commenting, the SNP’s Shadow Scotland Secretary Mhairi Black MP said:
“Boris Johnson has admitted what everyone has known to be true all along – that he broke the rules that everyone else was expected to follow and attended a boozy lockdown party in Downing Street.
“With Johnson burying his head in the sand and refusing to resign, Tory MPs have a duty to act.
“Douglas Ross made clear that if Boris Johnson was at the rule-breaking party then he cannot continue and must resign – well he must back his words with action now.
“Tory MPs, including Douglas Ross, put Johnson into power when they backed his leadership bid.
“They knew exactly what he was and they share responsibility for the damage he is doing.
“For once, Douglas Ross must grow a backbone and step up.
“Will he now act upon his own words and submit a motion of no confidence in Boris Johnson?”
