DOUGLAS Ross has been accused by one of his own parliamentarians of presiding over a “f***ing mess” after flip-flopping again on calls for Boris Johnson to resign.
An anonymous Tory MSP made the comment after the Scottish party boss again shifted his position on whether the Prime Minister should quit, following the publication of Sue Gray’s scathing report on the partygate scandal.
Ross was the first senior Conservative to urge Johnson to go after reports emerged of rule-breaking bashes in Downing Street during lockdown. He reversed that position in March due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, insisting it was not the right time for a change of leadership.
But following the publication of Gray’s damning report, the Scottish Tory leader said the Prime Minister should step down once the conflict in Ukraine is over.
The comments sparked ridicule in the media and concerns among his party.
One MSP, speaking to The Times, questioned whether they could “afford” to wait for the war in Ukraine to end. Another dubbed the situation as “a complete f***ing mess”, while a third described Ross’s plan as unsustainable.
The Scottish Tory chief was urged by the former chairman of the Stirling Conservative association to resubmit his letter of no confidence.
Alastair Orr, who backed Johnson in the 2019 Conservative leadership contest, told the Times: “Instead of continuing to support a prime minister who has lost all moral authority, Douglas Ross should be more concerned about the thousands of Scots unable to visit their relatives in hospital or care homes because they were following the rules he made at the time.
“Many were also prevented from attending the funerals of friends and family. At the same time, an excessive booze culture in Downing Street was being presided over by the prime minister. It is past time for Douglas Ross to get on the right side of the argument and resubmit his letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson.”
WATCH: Sky News hosts savage Douglas Ross for flip-flopping Boris Johnson takes
Several Scottish Tory MSPs have broken ranks to call for the Prime Minister’s resignation, including Alexander Stewart, Maurice Golden and Brian Whittle.
Another of their colleagues, Finlay Carson, said on Wednesday he would be “considering his position” if he had been the subject of the Gray report.
“My views on that haven’t changed since January; it’s now down to Westminster through the privileges committee and we’ll just wait and see what they say,” he told ITV Border.
Tory MSP Finlay Carson says if Sue Gray report had been about him he'd 'be considering his position' In January he joined Douglas Ross in calling for Boris Johnson to quit over #partygate pic.twitter.com/hDYhTKEoSD
— Representing Border (@ITVBorderRB) May 25, 2022
Former Scottish Conservative Party chair and MP, Peter Duncan, warned that Ross’s flip-flopping could pose further problems in the near future.
He told BBC Good Morning Scotland: “I don’t quite know how he navigates his way through the next period of time, particularly if we go into the next General Election with Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.”
Opposition figures took aim at Ross over his second U-turn.
SNP MSP Graeme Dey said: “If Douglas Ross has a shred of credibility left, he will agree that the Prime Minister’s time is up, and he will call for his resignation.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on Ross to “grow a backbone”, adding: “If there is to be any shred of decency, morality and dignity back in our politics then Boris Johnson must resign, and if the Conservative Party had any integrity whatsoever they would kick him out.”
LibDem chief Alex Cole-Hamilton described it as a "defining moment” for Ross. He commented: “I have spoken to members of his party and Conservative voters who are shocked that he is still standing by a Prime Minister who is only out for himself. He needs to grow a backbone and submit his letter of no confidence.”
And Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay added: “If Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross wishes to salvage any remnant of self-respect, he must end his pathetic equivocation and resubmit his letter calling for Johnson to go.”
Johnson, who now faces a parliamentary inquiry into the partygate scandal, was backed by Scottish Conservative MP Alister Jack.
The Scottish Secretary said: “I understand that people are angry about what happened in Downing Street. The Prime Minister has apologised again today, and made clear that he takes full responsibility for what went on in No 10. Lessons have been learned and changes have been made within No 10.
"The Prime Minister has my full support.”
