Boris Johnson was this week clinging to power after more than 40 per cent of Tory MPs voted to oust him in a confidence vote.
The vote was called by the 1922 Committee – the parliamentary group of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons – on Monday evening in the wake of the partygate scandal.
In total, 148 Tory MPs voted against Mr Johnson in the vote – 41 per cent – with 211 in favour – 59 per cent.
In a report published last week by senior civil servant Sue Gray, Mr Johnson was revealed to have attended or known about a series of lockdown breaching boozy parties whilst the nation was gripped with strict Covid restrictions.
Following Monday evening’s vote, Mr Johnson described the result as “decisive”. However, one Mid Scotland and Fife MSP said that whilst Mr Johnson may have been saved, he has “been fatally wounded”.
Following the vote, Mr Johnson said: “I think this is a very good result for politics and for the country.”
He added it was “a convincing result, a decisive result, and what it means is that as a Government we can move on and focus on the stuff that I think really matters to people”.
Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.
Asked how it compared to past confidence votes in Conservative Prime Ministers, he added: “I have got a far bigger mandate from my own parliamentary colleagues than I had in 2019.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Alexander Stewart has previously called for Mr Johnson to quit over the partygate scandal. He this week told the Observer: “Lawmakers should not be seen as lawbreakers.
“The Prime Minister has been saved but has been fatally wounded, as 148 Members of Parliament have chosen a vote of ‘no confidence’ and this will send shock waves right through the party.
“It’s quite clear also that the Scottish membership continues to have real concerns regarding the Prime Minister’s leadership.”
Stirling SNP MP Alyn Smith has reiterated his call for the Prime Minister to quit. He this week told the Observer: “We’ve known for a long time the Prime Minister is a busted flush, and last night’s (Monday) confidence vote proved it.
“More than 40 per cent of Tory MPs voted to sack Boris Johnson, it’s clear he has lost the backing of his colleagues and the public – he needs to go.
“There are too many important issues to focus on right now to indulge even more Tory party drama. The cost of living crisis needs to be addressed – and this PM is clearly not up to the job.”
Mr Smith added: “I’m heartily sick of this tawdry Tory melodrama, at a time when too many people are suffering from Covid or the economic crisis and patchy recovery from Covid exacerbated by the Brexit we didn’t vote for, this shabby psychodrama makes politics look awful.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Dean Lockhart declined to comment.
Sue Gray’s damning report into the series of boozy parties hosted at Number 10 and at Whitehall came following the conclusion of a separate inquiry by the Met Police into the Covid rule-breaking events at the heart of government, which saw a total of 83 people receive at least one fixed-penalty notice each for attending events over eight separate days.
Following the publication of the report, Mr Johnson addressed ministers in the House of Commons, in which he said: “I take full responsibility for everything that took place on my watch.”
Sue Gray’s damaging report told how on one occasion, a party was held on May 20, at which Downing Street staff were advised to “bring your own booze”.
On June 18, 2020, there was a gathering in the Cabinet Office at Whitehall to mark the departure of a Number 10 official. There was alcohol, food and music and the report noted that one person attending was sick.
On December 10, 2020, a Christmas part was held whilst the nation was enduring its second lockdown, which required people to stay at home and prohibited indoor gatherings of two or more people.
The gathering took place in the Department for Education. The Secretary of State for Education wanted to thank staff for their hard work ahead of the Christmas break. Senior officials and special advisers attended and there was food and alcohol available.
On December 18, 2020, a gathering lasting several hours took place in the Number 10 press office. Between 20 and 45 individuals attended over the course of the evening to celebrate the end of year and Christmas and included a ‘secret Santa’ and an awards ceremony as well as alcohol and food.
On April 16, 2021, two separate leaving events took place in Number 10, one for director of communications, James Slack and one for a senior official. Alcohol was available at both events and there were speeches, with senior officials in attendance. Both groups met in the garden later that evening. The events lasted for several hours, but the Prime Minister was not in residence.
The report added: ‘A number of individuals gathered near a child’s swing/slide in the garden, damaging it by leaning on and playing with it. This was noticed the next morning and reported to Number 10 staff.’
It went on: ‘I found that some staff had witnessed or been subjected to behaviours at work which they had felt concerned about but at times felt unable to raise properly.
“I was made aware of multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff. This was unacceptable.’
