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Wales Online

Politics

Conor Gogarty

The Tory MPs backing Boris Johnson after saying he had to go

Boris Johnson Caroline Johnson Gareth Johnson MPS Tory Lee Anderson Amanda Milling Jill Mortimer Jonathan Gullis Shaun Bailey

Some 13 of the 53 MPS backing Boris Johnson in the Tory leadership contest welcomed his resignation in July. Two even stepped down from government roles in protest at the then-Prime Minister's leadership.

Mr Johnson has flown back from the latest of three post-resignation holidays to make his bid for the Conservative leadership, which is due to conclude within a week. We have looked at what some of the MPs supporting him have said — both now and in early July, when a mass rebellion forced Mr Johnson to step down after a series of scandals.

Jonathan Gullis , MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, quit as a parliamentary private secretary on July 5. He said at the time: "I feel for too long we have been more focused on dealing with our reputational damage rather than delivering for the people of this country and spreading opportunity for all, which is why I came into politics."

But Mr Gullis has now posted on Facebook that “lots of people from across Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke” have been telling him to “bring back Boris.” He added that Mr Johnson “got the big calls on Covid-19 right".

Dr Caroline Johnson , MP for Sleaford, stood down as Tory party vice chair on July 7, the morning Mr Johnson tendered his resignation. She said at the time that his “errors of judgement and domestic actions” had “squandered the goodwill” of the party, and that he would “only damage our party and therefore our country" if he stayed. She has now told Times Radio that she is backing Mr Johnson to return as PM.

Simon Clarke , MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, tweeted following Mr Johnson's resignation: “I am deeply saddened but this is the right decision."

Now, though, the housing minister has posted online: "Teesside has had difficult times and is now levelling up because of Boris Johnson . Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and I know that for us, like Boris, the comeback will be greater than the setback. #BackBoris."

Lee Anderson , MP for Ashfield, withdrew his support for Mr Johnson in early July. He said it had been wrong for the then-PM to appoint Chris Pincher to a government role despite a sexual misconduct complaint, and for Downing Street to claim that he had forgotten about the allegations. "I cannot look myself in the mirror and accept this," said Mr Anderson at the time. "It is my belief that our PM has got all the big decisions right... That said, integrity should always come first and sadly this has not been the case over the past few days."

Mr Anderson has now posted online: "Boris Johnson just called me. We have had a long chat about everything past and present. My inbox is full of BBB. I am drawing a line under it. Boris has my support."

Antony Higginbotham , MP for Burnley, said in early July that he could no longer “in good conscience continue supporting the current leader of my party”. He said at the time: “We have, for many months now, given the benefit of the doubt to the Prime Minister. And privately I and others have been pushing for changes in policy and approach. It has become clear we can no longer work on this basis."

But he has now said: "Over the last 24 hours my inbox has been inundated with messages. The majority view, and my view, is clear. It’s time to #BringBackBoris. He has the mandate to lead our country & our party."

Boris Johnson and Jill Mortimer at Jacksons Wharf in Hartlepool (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Hartlepool MP Jill Mortimer has also declared her support for Mr Johnson despite saying in early July: “The most important thing for me is to work for, and support people in Hartlepool. I am deeply saddened by what is happening in my party, and in spite of his getting the big calls right over the past two years, I believe the Prime Minister was in an untenable position."

Shaun Bailey , MP for West Bromwich West, said in early July: "After much consideration, it is clear that it is in the interests of the country, of the Conservative Party and for my communities that we have fresh leadership. It saddens me to reach this conclusion and I have not done so lightly, but the information which has come to light, has left me to no other alternative than to believe that a new leader is the only way in which we can win the election and stop the travesty that would be a Labour government."

Mr Bailey has now tweeted: "It's a simple one for me. It's time to #BringBackBoris. The members want him, he won the support of my communities and for the constituents I speak to, they want him back."

Amanda Milling , MP for Cannock Chase, said following Mr Johnson's resignation: "Boris has had my support from the start, but resigning was the right thing to do as the damage to our party and country was getting too much."

She has now tweeted: "As one of the original Boris Johnson backers there is only one candidate who has a proven track record of delivery for the British people #BringBackBoris."

Mark Eastwood , MP for Dewsbury, said in early July: "I am saddened and disappointed that we have got to the situation where he has to resign. However in footballing terms when you lose not only the dressing room but the coaching staff it makes your position untenable. He has done the right thing in the end."

He has now publicly voiced his support for Mr Johnson, sharing fellow MP James Duddridge's tweet: "I hope you enjoyed your holiday boss. Time to come back. Few issues at the office that need addressing. #bringbackboris"

Karl McCartney , MP for Lincoln, said in early July: “It has become clear to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP, that he no longer has the confidence of a growing number of his colleagues in the Conservative parliamentary party. Therefore, the time has come for the Prime Minister to take the decision to resign and allow the Conservative party the opportunity to select and elect a new leader."

Mr McCartney has now said: "One of the main reasons for the largest majority I have achieved after various general elections I have stood in, in Lincoln, is because Boris Johnson was our Prime Minister and leader of the Conservatives and promised to deliver Brexit. Many of my constituents want him back. I do too."

Gareth Johnson , MP for Dartford, tweeted following Mr Johnson's resignation: "It had become clear that the PM’s position was no longer tenable and he had to resign."

He has now posted online: "I am declaring today that I will be backing Boris Johnson to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and therefore our Prime Minister. He is the person who has the ability and the electoral mandate."

Henry Smith , MP for Crawley, has also declared support for Mr Johnson despite saying after his resignation: "After leading our country through one of the most challenging periods we have experienced in decades, the Prime Minister’s decision last week to resign was the correct one. As it became clear that this was the best way to ensure stable government without distractions, Boris Johnson stood down having got the major policy decisions of his premiership right."

Ben Bradley , MP for Mansfield, said in early July: "I've obviously wanted to wait, and to listen, and to come to the right conclusion, but I'm afraid - though it pains me as I have always supported him - this can't continue. Government can't just grind to a halt like this."

But he has now said: "To be honest, though clearly he made mistakes, I was never one of those who had wanted him to go in the first place. I've always felt that the potential of Boris is so huge and exciting. Nobody engages with the wider public in the way that he does."

The full list of 53 MPs backing Mr Johnson is below. In order to reach an online ballot of members, he needs 50 MPs to support him. Rival Rishi Sunak has already reached 127.