Luke Pollard, the Labour and Co-operative MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has called for Conservative MPs to remove Boris Johnson as their leader and as Prime Minister.

In an open letter to all Tory MPs for the South West, Luke states that Johnson’s is “unfit for office” after revelations this week suggest the Prime Minister may have lied about a Christmas Party in Downing Street which broke Covid protocols, as well as lying about the donations for renovations on his flat.

He has all cited the break down in trust may mean less people follow new Covid rules to fight the Omicron variant.

Luke has asked South West Tories to put “our region and our country before the interests of the Conservative Party” and get rid of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.

Luke Pollard said:

“Boris Johnson is unfit for office. If reports are true, he has lied about the parties that took place in Downing Street. While people were stopped from saying goodbye to their loved ones, staff in Downing Street held numerous parties. It is simply untenable for there to be one rule for Boris Johnson and his chums and another for everyone else.

 

“At a time of national emergency, we need a Prime Minister that commands respect, has moral authority, and tells the truth. So I am asking my Conservative colleagues and friends in the South West: put our region and out country before your Party, and remove Boris Johnson as your leader. Britain deserves so much better than Boris Johnson.”

Full text of the letter is here:

Open letter to South West England’s Conservative MPs

Friday 10 December 2021

Dear Colleague, 

BORIS JOHNSON IS UNFIT FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

I’m writing this open letter to all of the Conservative MPs representing communities in the South West.

The last week has I think demonstrated that Boris Johnson is unfit for office. At present, the evidence seems to suggest he has lied about the Christmas parties that took place breaking Covid restrictions in Downing Street last year, and about the donations he received to renovate his Downing Street flat. Boris Johnson’s position as Prime Minister is untenable – he has to go.

Most worryingly, I fear that the Prime Minister’s actions are damaging our ability to fight Covid. As the Omicron variant spreads further, it is necessary that further measures to contain it are needed to be put in place. The Prime Minister has demonstrated by his actions that he lacks the moral authority now to introduce the COVID measures we need. The public are rightly sceptical that he and his aides will not follow the rules the rest of the country will be asked to follow.

The British public have been generous in giving the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt of his poor handling of the COVID pandemic, awarding multi-million pound contracts to Tory donors and in defending the actions of Dominic Cummings. That benefit of the doubt has expired – the public are furious that while they gave up their Christmases last year, obeyed the rules, missed family funerals and the chance to say good bye to loved ones, there were parties in Downing Street. The PM’s team have known for a whole year about these parties – they also should go.

At a time of national emergency, we need a Prime Minister that commands respect, authority, and tells the truth. So I am asking my Conservative colleagues and friends in the South West: put our region and out country before Party, and sack Boris Johnson. It is time to send a message to the Prime Minister and those rule-breakers around him: the party is over.

Best wishes,

Luke Pollard MP
Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport