Boris Johnson has demonstrated that he is ‘unfit for office’ over the ‘Partygate’ drama, a former Scottish Conservative leader has claimed.
Tory peer Ruth Davidson, who successfully campaigned against Scottish independence in 2014 and quit frontline politics five years later, said the Prime Minister is in a ‘perilous situation’ ahead of Sue Gray’s report into the lockdown party scandal.
The former MSP stated that she had already sent her no confidence letter in Mr Johnson to The Times in a conversation with The Times.
She also warned that Mr Johnson’s authority was teetering in part because of a growing ‘fatigue’ within the party ‘for the amount of drama that has been emanating from No10’ over allegations of lockdown-busting gatherings across government.
‘I didn’t support him for the leadership and I believe what has been exposed to have happened in the last few weeks shows that he’s unfit for office,’ she told the paper.
Miss Davidson has previously launched attacks on plans by Mr Johnson’s government to force people to show ID to be allowed to vote at elections, and its policy on Britain’s departure from the EU.
Tory peer Ruth Davidson, who successfully campaigned against Scottish independence in 2014 and quit frontline politics five years later, said the Prime Minister is in a ‘perilous situation’ ahead of Sue Gray’s report into the lockdown party scandal
Boris Johnson has demonstrated that he is ‘unfit for office’ over the ‘Partygate’ drama, a former Scottish Conservative leader has claimed
Miss Davidson was made a mother by her partner Jen Wilson in October 2018. Finn, their first child after IVF treatment, was delivered to Miss Davidson. To take maternity leave, she stepped away from the political frontline
She told ITV’s Robert Peston that allegations of voter fraud were ‘total b******s’, calling the PM’s proposed clampdown ‘politics as performance’.
The Tory peer was not shy about her disgust at Mr Johnson’s attempts to replace Theresa May who had been injured by him in 2019.
Miss, Davidson, who also campaigned for Remain in the 2016 European referendum, had clashed with Mr Johnson over the issue of the UK’s future membership of the EU.
After being touted as a potential leader for the UK Conservatives but having explicitly rejected the idea of taking up the role, she took on Mr Johnson during a live televised debate at Wembley Stadium.
During Mrs. May Miss Davidson’s race for the next term, she backed Sajid Javid first and then Jeremy Hunt.
Scottish Tories were said to have launched a plan codenamed Operation A*se to steer votes to Mr Johnson’s rivals.
She had led the party in Scotland eight years ago and stepped down as leader in August 2019. This was less than a month after Johnson joined Downing Street.
After IVF treatment, Miss Davidson gave birth to her son Finn in October 2018. She was joined by Jen Wilson as her partner.
To go on maternity leave she resigned from the political frontline, and her deputy Jackson Carlaw acted as interim leader.
Her leadership transformed the fortunes of the Conservatives north of the border after she took on the job in November 2011 — just six months after she became an MSP.
She led the Scottish Conservatives to a record 31 Holyrood votes, which saw them surpass Labour for second.
It comes amid reports that Scotland Yard will meet with the rebel Tory who accused government whips of ‘blackmailing’ backbenchers seeking to oust Mr Johnson.
Sue Gray (pictured) is said to have discovered an email from Martin Reynolds’ principal private secretary warning him against having a drink party in No.10 garden.
This week’s poll suggests that Mr Johnson’s popularity ratings are similar to Jeremy Corbyn prior to the 2019 general election. Rishi is being seen as more favorably.
William Wragg (34), said that he would meet a Metropolitan Police detective in the House of Commons next week to talk about his claims. This raises the possibility of police opening an investigation.
On Thursday, senior Tory Mr Wragg claimed Mr Johnson’s critics were facing ‘intimidation’ as part of an effort to prevent him being ousted from office.
The Prime Minister is reportedly restoring the group of ministers that helped him win 2019’s leadership contest. This was in an effort to preserve his premiership amid Partygate chaos and rising fears about a no confidence vote.
Mr Wragg said on Friday that next week, he plans to tell the detective ‘several’ examples of bullying and intimidation, claiming some cases involved public money.
He told The Telegraph: ‘I stand by what I have said. No amount of gas-lighting will change that.’
Scotland Yard will meet the rebel Tory who said government whips had ‘blackmailed’ backbenchers – as Boris beefs up top team amid no-confidence vote fears
Scotland Yard are set to meet with the rebel Tory who accused government whips of ‘blackmailing’ backbenchers seeking to oust Boris Johnson, who is understood to have reinstated his leadership team amid fears of a no-confidence vote.
William Wragg, 34, said he will be meeting a detective from the Metropolitan Police in the House of Commons early next week to discuss his allegations, raising the prospect police could open an investigation.
On Thursday, senior Tory Mr Wragg claimed Boris Johnson’s critics were facing ‘intimidation’ as part of an effort to prevent him being ousted from office.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has reportedly reinstated the team of ministers who helped him win the 2019 leadership contest in a bid to save his premiership as fears of a no-confidence vote increase amid Partygate chaos.
On Friday, Mr Wragg stated that he would tell Detective’several instances’ of bullying and intimidation next week. He claimed some cases were public money.
According to him, The Telegraph said that he stands by the statements he made. That will not be changed by any gas-lighting.
William Wragg, 34 (pictured), said that he would meet a Metropolitan Police detective in the House of Commons next week to talk about his claims of ‘blackmail.
He said, “I am meeting with the Police soon next week,” he continued.
According to the Metropolitan Police, if a criminal offense was reported it would be taken into consideration.
This comes after Downing Street stated that it wouldn’t be conducting its own investigation into the allegations, despite being asked by opposition and Conservative MPs.
According to a spokesperson from No 10, it would not open an investigation until it presented evidence supporting Mr Wragg’s claims.
The Chair of Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Mr. Wragg said that an investigation should not be done by the police.
According to a spokesperson for Metropolitan Police, if there were any criminal allegations that should be made, the Met would investigate them.
According to reports, the spokesperson said that they were unable to comment on the meetings.
MailOnline reached No.10 for comments.
Johnson, meanwhile, is said to be recording the position of each Tory MP using the ministers who helped to him win the leadership election 2019.
Senior Tory M Wragg (pictured) claimed that Boris Johnson’s critics were being intimidated as part of an attempt to stop him from losing his office
They are said to be compiling a spreadsheet outlining which politicians are loyal to Mr Johnson, which are wavering and which want to oust him, as fears of a no-confidence vote in the Premier are increasing, The Times reported.
Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, is believed to have restored the spreadsheet that he had created in 2019 and which helped Mr Johnson win the leadership race.
Three former whips – Chris Pincher, Chris Heaton Harris and Nigel Adams – and Conor Burns, who was Mr Johnson’s parliamentary private secretary when he was foreign secretary, have also reportedly joined the operation.
It is thought that the operation of this team was separate to government whips office’s survey of MPs.
A source revealed to The Times that they are performing things the whips cannot do, causing panic and suspicion.
As concerns rise about a no confidence vote, the Prime Minister’s Team reportedly believes they have support from around 300 of 359 Conservative MPs.
Conservative Party rules let MPs force confidence votes in their leaders.
The vote is triggered if 15 per cent of Tory MPs – or 54 MPs – send letters to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.
It is thought that Johnson may be recording the positions of each Tory MP using the ministers who supported him in winning the 2019 leadership race, which includes Grant Shapps (pictured).
It comes after rebel Tories have threatened to release a secret recording of Government whips’ allegedly making ‘blackmail’ threats.
Backbenchers calling for the replacement of the Prime Minister amid Partygate Chaos claim that they have videotaped party enforcers trying to bully MPs and also had copies text messages.
Johnson said on Thursday that he has’seen nothing’ to support Mr Wragg’s claim that critics had been subject to intimidation in an effort to keep him out of office.
These include an incendiary claim by Christian Wakeford, a defector who claimed that he was warned not to support the government’s decision to cut free food for his pupils if he didn’t find a school for him in Bury South.
The Times claimed that Tory MPs who wanted to see Mr Johnson’s back secretly recorded heated conversations with Mark Spencer (the chief whip) and text messages in support of the allegations.
Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, said today that he didn’t believe this was occurring and claimed blackmail threats would not be accepted.
ITV’s Good Morning Britain was told by him that the whip’s job was to convince people to vote for the Government. This has been done over decades and with a variety of tools.
He said, however, that if they don’t support the Government, then their school or hospital will not get the funds that it needs, that would be a terrible idea.
He stated that these are serious allegations and should be investigated. If people behave this way, I believe they must be punished.
Christian Wakeford (pictured) claimed that he was threatened with losing the funding for a new Bury South school if he refused to support the Government’s plan to eliminate free food for children.
This week’s poll suggests that Mr Johnson’s popularity ratings are similar to Jeremy Corbyn prior to the 2019 general election. Rishi is being perceived more favorably.
“I consider it extremely unlikely, but we will have to investigate this.”
This comes just as Sue Gray (the senior official investigating claims of rule-busting gatherings in Government) was reported to have discovered an email from Martin Reynolds, Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary, warning him against having a party at No 10 Garden during the initial lockdown.
According to ITV News, the email was sent by a top official and stated that Reynolds should cancel the event because it violated the rules.
Johnson confessed to attending the event for 25 minutes, on May 20, 2020. He maintained, however, that he thought it was work and that he wasn’t warned.
In an attempt to maintain his position, the PM was battling allegations that Tory critics have been subject to ‘intimidation’.
Wragg claimed that on Thursday he was informed of reports about misconduct by’members staff at 10 Downing Street special advisers, government ministers and others’ encouraging publications of stories to shame those they believe lack confidence in the Prime Minster.
“Intimidation of Members of Parliament is serious.” According to the Chairman of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, any report I know would be considered blackmail.
“I would advise my colleagues to inform the Speaker of House of Commons as well the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Mr Johnson stated that on his visit to Taunton, he saw no evidence and heard no evidence supporting any of the claims.
Sue Gray (pictured) was rumored to have discovered an email from Martin Reynolds, Mr Johnson’s private secretary principal, warning him against having a party at the No. 10 garden.
Although he stated that he would look into the evidence, No. 10 indicated there was no plan to open an investigation like Labour demanded.
The Times reports that a Tory MP stated they had been told by a whip, “You’re done,” when voting against last year’s Government.
According to the paper, Tory rebels also met Thursday in order to plan their next steps.
One of few Tory backbenchers who have publicly stated that they had written a letter asking Sir Graham Brady (chairman of backbench 1922 Committee) to request a no confidence vote for Mr Johnson’s leadership.
He stated that it was possible the ministerial code may have been violated by Government Whips’ Office’s threat to pull public funding from the constituencies of MPs.
Christian Wakeford was the Tory MP who defected to Labour to protest Mr Johnson’s leadership. He also said that he had been threatened with the closure of schools in his area if he didn’t follow the rules.
Metropolitan Police stated that they will consider all complaints.
“As with all such allegations, should there be a criminal offense being reported to the Met it would be taken into consideration,” a spokesperson stated.
Based on reports by Ms Gray that Reynolds had received an email informing her not to host a Downing Street party, No.10 said that it wouldn’t comment.