‘I think he’s a disaster’: Bury voters weigh in on Boris Johnson

Mary Farrington (left) and Barbara Robinson. ‘To lie about it consistently and to lie in the House of Commons, that’s the problem,’ said Robinson. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

As the Conservative politician with the most marginal constituency in Great Britain, James Daly ought to have an especially keen interest in the leadership of his party. But on Monday morning, the MP for Bury North in Greater Manchester insisted the no-confidence vote “came as something of a surprise”.

So much so that he had set off to campaign in the Wakefield byelection when he heard the news and had to promptly turn around to get the next train to London.