Two more Conservatives pull support from UK PM over ‘partygate’

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LONDON (Reuters) – Two lawmakers from Britain’s governing Conservative Party pulled their support for Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday over a damning report that detailed a collection of alcohol-fuelled lockdown-breaking events at his 10 Downing Street workplace.

A day after the report was printed, describing a boozy tradition in Downing Street throughout COVID-19 lockdowns, Conservative lawmakers John Baron and David Simmonds mentioned they might not support the prime minister.

Their voices add to a rising listing of Conservative lawmakers who’ve referred to as for Johnson to resign over what has been dubbed ‘partygate’, regardless of the prime minister’s repeated apologies.

Baron, first elected in 2001, mentioned he was withdrawing his support as a result of he believed Johnson had “knowingly” misled parliament — a cost the prime minister denies however which is being investigated by a parliamentary committee.

“Given the dimensions of rule-breaking in No. 10, I can not settle for that the prime minister was unaware. Therefore his repeated assurances in parliament that there was no rule-breaking is just not credible,” he mentioned in an announcement.

“Having at all times mentioned I might contemplate all of the obtainable proof earlier than deciding, I’m afraid the prime minister not enjoys my support — I can not give him the good thing about the doubt.”

Simmonds, who was elected in 2019, mentioned Johnson had misplaced the arrogance of the general public. “Accordingly it’s time for him to step down in order that new management can take ahead the vital work of the federal government,” he mentioned in an announcement.

More than 15 Conservative lawmakers have publicly referred to as for Johnson to stop for the reason that reviews of lockdown-breaking events started to steadily drip into the media. But Johnson has refused, saying he nonetheless has work to do in authorities.

To set off a confidence vote in Johnson’s management, 54 Conservative lawmakers in parliament should write letters calling for one to the chairman of the get together’s 1922 Committee.

The letters are confidential, so the chairman is the one one who is aware of what number of have really been submitted.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Editing by Kylie MacLellan)



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