Merseyside's only Conservative MP has urged Boris Johnson to resign.
Mr Johnson's government has been rocked by a spate of resignations since Tuesday (July 5) evening. Health Secretary Sajid Javid was the first to go, stating that he could no longer support the Prime Minister, and was quickly followed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Their resignations came after Mr Johnson's handling of the row over former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher was called into question. The Prime Minister had to apologise for appointing Mr Pincher to a government role despite being aware of a previous complaint made against him.
READ MORE: Merseyside MPs react to latest scandal and wave of resignations
Mr Pincher quit as deputy chief whip last week following claims that he groped two men at a private members’ club, but Mr Johnson was told about allegations against him as far back as 2019.
As the number of resignations from government passed 20 on Wednesday (July 6), Mr Johnson faced criticism from all quarters and was on the receiving end of a grilling at Prime Minister's Questions, when Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer branded him a "pathetic spectacle" in his political career's "dying act". Labour MPs from across Merseyside have given a damning assessment of the Prime Minister's recent conduct - Birkenhead MP Mick Whitely encapsulated their sentiments, saying "Boris Johnson is finished".
Southport MP Damien Moore - the only Conservative MP on Merseyside - has now joined the calls for the beleaguered Prime Minister to quit. Mr Moore voted against Mr Johnson in last month's vote of no confidence, but was willing to back him after he scraped through that vote.
However, he has now said that Mr Johnson must resign, claiming that "nothing has been learned from past mistakes".
In an extended statement sent to the ECHO, the MP said: "Last month, I voted no confidence in the leadership of the Prime Minister. When he won the confidence vote, I accepted the need to give him time to attempt to build back the trust he had lost with the British people and the Conservative Party.
"However, it is clear to me and to many of my parliamentary colleagues from the way in which a number of issues have since been handled that nothing has been learnt from past mistakes, and I have sadly concluded that neither does there seem to have been an intention to do so. The Prime Minister must resign.
"This has not been an easy decision to make, as it was under the Prime Minister ’s leadership that we won our majority in 2019, got Brexit done, and unrolled one of the fastest and most effective Covid vaccine roll outs in the world.
"I am in constant communication with my constituents over telephone, email, letter, and of course in person out and about in Southport. I know from my conversations with them that a clear majority are still aligned with what we Conservatives stand for. However, they are rightly uncomfortable with the current leadership of the party. I will do what I can to put this right.
"I remain, as always, dedicated to serving my constituents and the people of Southport."
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