SENIOR Scottish Tories have blanked the media as chaos descended on Westminster following the shock resignation of two members of Boris Johnson’s government.
Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid quit within minutes of one another on Wednesday night, sparking a wave of further resignations from junior ministers.
But Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, an MP and MSP, was “not available” to discuss the news with BBC Scotland’s flagship news programme Good Morning Scotland.
Neither was Scottish Secretary Alister Jack – who has said he “fully” supports the Prime Minister – or any Scottish Conservative MP.
Host Gary Robertson tweeted: “Scots Secretary Alistair Jack not available this morning nor Douglas Ross or any Scottish Tory MPs”.
Johnson has managed to shore up his Cabinet in the meantime, appointing Nadim Zahawi as Chancellor and Steve Barclay as Health Secretary, to replace Sunak and Javid respectively.
Government resignations: Who is staying, who has gone? What does Boris Johnston do next? Scots Secretary Alistair Jack not available this morning nor Douglas Ross or any Scottish Tory MPs We'll speak to @IanDuncanHMG & @JoAnneNadler#bbcgms 0805https://t.co/jBcDgCsklB
— Gary Robertson (@BBCGaryR) July 6, 2022
But he is facing the prospect he has lost the confidence of his party, with an upcoming election to the powerful Conservative 1922 Committee, may change internal rules to allow another challenge to his leadership.
The dramatic scenes were sparked by the revelation the Prime Minister had appointed alleged sex pest MP Christopher Pincher to a senior Government position despite being aware of a formal investigation into his conduct in 2019.
Pincher stepped down as a party whip – responsible for party discipline and MP’s last week and has now been suspended from the Conservative Party amid an investigation into claims he drunkenly groped two men at a private members’ club in London. He denies the allegations.
But following an interview with the BBC on Wednesday night, in which Johnson acknowledged it was a “mistake” to appoint Pincher to the role despite being aware of allegations about his behaviour.
Michael Ellis, the Tory Paymaster General, yesterday defended the appointment, telling MPs amid jeers the Prime Minister did “not immediately recall” the allegations or being told of a formal probe into Pincher’s conduct when the Foreign Office opened a probe into other accusations against Pincher.
The Scottish Conservatives were approached for comment.
