Merseyside is not exactly known as a Conservative part of the country. Quite the opposite in face.
All the region's councils are controlled by the Labour Party and all but one of the region's MPs are Labour too. The only exception is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Southport, Damien Moore.
The week's headlines have been dominated by the Sue Gray report and its damning conclusions about the lockdown-breaking behaviour of those in Number 10 Downing Street and the culture created by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Despite the huge criticisms in that report, Mr Johnson has refused to resign and has been backed by his entire cabinet and many Tory MPs.
READ MORE: No shame, no humility, just a man who thinks he has got away with it all again
As the only Conservative MP in our region, we thought it would be good to get the views of Mr Moore on the situation, the Prime Minister's actions and behaviour and what he thinks should happen next.
Mr Moore was in the House of Commons on Wednesday to hear the Prime Minister's statement in response to the Sue Gray report. In his own response, the Southport MP said: "These illegal gatherings should never have occurred in Number 10, and it is right that the Prime Minister has once again apologised. The actions outlined in Sue Gray’s report were not, and never will be, okay, and it is right that over a hundred fines were handed out to those responsible.
"I do not in any way support anyone blatantly breaking the covid rules, which were put in place to protect us all. I, like the vast majority of those of us in Southport, consistently followed the rules, and I know from my conversations and correspondence with constituents how extremely difficult this was for them."
Mr Moore said it was 'welcome' that most of the senior management of Downing Street has now changed, including a new chief of staff, new principal private secretary and new communications director. Mr Moore added: "It is also encouraging that Sue Gray states that “progress is being made in addressing the issues [she] raised”, and that steps are being taken to address many of the cultural issues outlined in her report."
But the Southport MP, first elected in 2017, said he has been clear with Mr Johnson about how unhappy he was about what took place inside Number 10 during the lockdowns. He said: "I have made my views on this matter very clear to the Prime Minister, expressing the total disapproval of my constituents and I at the illegal activity that occurred in Number 10, and I stand poised to communicate further views if the promised changes do not imminently materialise. There remains great anger at the events in Downing Street, and as I speak with my constituents, I worry whether this can be resolved."
He added: "I realise that times are tough for many across Southport, with the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rising energy costs, and global inflationary pressures testing us all. I am working tirelessly to see what more can be done to support those struggling, and I am in constant communication with the Government and with my constituents over these and other issues."
