A statement from the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is expected today (Thursday) following the resignation of 54+ Government ministers, who have said his position is not longer tenable and called for his resignation as Conservative Leader.
Here on the Isle of Wight the Conservative MP, Bob Seely, finally found a voice to criticise the PM last night – delaying until the moment it was clear that Johnson has no future.
There are just two days until Parliament recesses for the summer and it’s thought that Johnson will choose to remain in post as care-taker Prime Minister until the leadership election is completed in the autumn.
Pugh: I didn’t vote for him in the leadership election
David Pugh, Chairman of the Isle of Wight Conservatives, told News OnTheWight,
“I am pleased that Boris Johnson has finally decided to do the right thing and resign. I didn’t vote for him in the leadership election in 2019 and nothing in the past three years would have caused me to change my mind.
“His time in office should end straight away. He should tender his resignation as Prime Minister to the Queen today. An interim Prime Minister should be appointed ahead of the outcome of the forthcoming Conservative Party leadership contest.
“In 2019, the Isle of Wight Conservative Association welcomed both of the final two leadership contenders to the Island. We will be looking to do the same this time.”
Lowthion: Boris Johnson isn’t one bad apple
On behalf of the Isle of Wight Green Party, Vix Lowthion told News OnTheWight,
“Boris Johnson should leave Number 10 with immediate effect. Far too many MPs from his own party, including our current Isle of Wight MP, have made public statements against his premiership for him to stay in post.
“Residents of the Isle of Wight have told me about their concerns and anger for many months – but ministers and MPs continued to keep him in office in the mistaken belief that he will keep them in their well-paid jobs.
“Islanders will not forget the damage the Conservative Party as a whole have wilfully inflicted on this country in the middle of a pandemic, a cost of living crisis and the accelerating climate crisis.
“Boris Johnson isn’t one bad apple – the whole tree is rotten and public confidence in this government is rock bottom. We now need a General Election to give the people a say on how we want our country to be run.”
Quigley: Johnson should not be allowed to stay on until October
Cllr Richard Quigley from Island Labour told News OnTheWight,
“Johnson should not be allowed to stay on until October, writing books at the tax payers’ expense and filling the Lords with his cronies.
“For the sake of the country, the chaos of the past few months needs to come to an end. We need a government focused on fixing the cost of living crisis, building affordable homes and making sure the NHS is in a better state than it was pre pandemic.
“The sad thing for the Island is it puts the Island Deal our MP promised us even further away. Bob Seely said Johnson was the best chance of us getting a deal. Bob even backed Johnson as recently as last week.”
Quigley: Seely now needs to do the decent thing
Cllr Quigley added,
“There are decent people that vote Conservative on the Island, the problem is our Conservative MP hasn’t done the decent thing for Islanders. He backed the wrong horse for his own gain.
“He now needs to do the decent thing and put the Island first and not his career.”
Burgess: New prime minister must bring a new attitude to governing
Steph Burgess as Chair of the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats told News OnTheWight,
“We are relieved to see Boris Johnson will go. He has long been unfit to be Prime Minister, if he ever was. Those who supported him must look at their own morals and integrity and realise that they also must shoulder some of the blame for his chaos.
“Boris must go, and go immediately, not waiting for a leadership election. The country needs a new leadership.
“A new prime minister must bring a new attitude to governing.
“One that genuinely helps those who are already in desperate situations due to the cost of living crisis.
“One that will tackle the crisis of housing, ensuring that everyone has access to genuinely affordable housing to rent or buy.
“One that is honest about the harm done to the UK economy by Boris’s extreme form of Brexit. Restoring the customs union would slash costs and red tape for British business.
“And one that invests across the board to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels, and accelerate us towards sustainable carbon-neutrality.
“To achieve this we need a general election.
“It’s not just Boris Johnson who lost confidence. The British public have lost confidence in the Conservative Party, who only acted once Boris Johnson took things to the very brink of constitutional crisis.”
Garratt: He is not credible
Lib Dem councillor, Andrew Garratt, has taken to Twitter to share his views, tweeting,
Seely: Boris should go now
Bob Seely told News OnTheWight,
“I believe Boris has made the right decision to step aside. Despite his past strengths, he is becoming a distraction to governing Britain. I am concerned that important debates and important issues – on the Island and nationally – are being drowned out by the incessant noise from Downing Street.
“I thank Boris for his service, he’s had some big wins – and I’m sorry it has ended this way – but I believe his resignation today is the right decision for the Conservative Party and the right decision for our country.
“I believe Boris should go now and make way for others to come forward. We need to move swiftly on. We need a new leader who has the trust and respect of his or her colleagues – and a renewed sense of purpose – to govern us through a pivotal stage in our country’s history and meet the nation’s challenges.
“We need to regroup, rebuild and get on with delivering for the people we represent.
“I look forward to working with a revitalised ministerial team who can help me to continue to deliver improvements for the Island.”
Article edit
12.15pm 7th Jul 2022 – Comment from RQ added
12.57pm 7th Jul 2022 – Comment from SB added
4.50pm 7th Jul 2022 – Comment from BS added
