I still maintain that I categorically will not defend the indefensible. I fully share the country’s and my constituents’ outrage and upset about the Downing Street parties when people up and down the land were making huge personal and sometimes tragic sacrifices to do the right thing and obey the public health rules. As I have previously stated, if rules and indeed the law have been broken, then quite rightly there should be serious consequences for all those involved, no matter who they are. The fact that the law makers went on to break those very laws that they brought in to keep us all safe is deeply damaging for our democracy. I believe that situation is untenable moving forward.
As I have said previously, I had looked to the Prime Minister to outline a timetable and process for an orderly transition to a leadership election as soon as the situation in Ukraine permitted. I believed that destabilising the UK Government at this point would undermine international efforts to support the Ukrainian people and bring the despicable Russian invasion to an end. However, this did not happen and the Conservative Party acted according to party procedure by calling for a vote of no confidence. For the reasons I have outlined in my public statements, I expressed a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson in that 1922 Committee vote. 41% of my parliamentary colleagues also voted in this way. I sincerely hope that the Prime Minister and the Cabinet reflect on this result closely and act accordingly. This is not about Brexit, remain or leave, or part of a campaign by the media or the Opposition. This is about honesty and integrity in politics.
As a democrat, I fully respect the outcome of this vote and believe we now need to move forward to do what is best for our country.
