Two Tory Devon MPs submit letters of no confidence in Boris Johnson
Anthony Mangnall and Gary Streeter are the latest to speak out
Last updated 3rd Feb 2022
Two Tory MPs for Devon have submitted letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
Anthony Mangnall, for Totnes and South Devon, has spoken out over Downing Street lockdown parties, tweeting that 'standards in public life matter'.
He said: "At this time I can no longer support the PM. His actions and mistruths are overshadowing the extraordinary work of so many excellent ministers and colleagues."
Meanwhile Gary Streeter, who represents South West Devon, has also declared he longer has confidence in Boris Johnson.
He wrote online: "I previously made it clear in response to the many e-mails I have received about the parties in Downing Street that appeared to break Lockdown rules, that the wise thing to do was to await the report from Sue Gray. This has now been received (albeit in truncated form) and I have made my decision.
"I cannot reconcile the pain and sacrifice of the vast majority of the British Public during lockdown with the attitude and activities of those working in Downing Street.
"Accordingly, I have now submitted a letter seeking a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
"I have not come to this decision lightly. It is not my intention to say any more about this matter.
"I will focus on serving the residents of South West Devon."
Boris Johnson has lost the support of three MPs so far today (2nd February) as reports suggest the Prime Minister attended more of the gatherings being investigated by police than previously thought.
Former minister Tobias Ellwood said it is “just horrible” for Tory MPs to have to defend the situation to the public, and confirmed he will be submitting a formal letter stating he has no confidence in Mr Johnson.
Their intervention came after the Daily Telegraph reported Mr Johnson was seen heading up to his Downing Street flat on the night it hosted a gathering being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.
The Prime Minister is also said to have spoken at two more leaving dos at the centre of Scotland Yard inquiries.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson again refused to say whether he had been at the alleged party in his flat, telling MPs “the process must go on”.
Downing Street later told reporters that Met officers have not yet been in contact with the Prime Minister about a potential police interview regarding the alleged coronavirus rule-breaking in No 10.
Senior Conservative Mr Ellwood used an interview on Wednesday to publicly state he has lost confidence in Mr Johnson.
The Commons Defence Committee chairman told Sky News: “This is just horrible for all MPs to continuously have to defend this to the British public.
“The Government’s acknowledged the need for fundamental change, culture, make-up, discipline, the tone of Number 10, but the strategy has been one, it seems, of survival, of rushed policy announcements like the Navy taking over the migrant Channel crossings.”
He suggested Mr Johnson should “take a grip” of the situation and call a vote of confidence in himself.
“I don’t think the Prime Minister realises how worried colleagues are in every corner of the party, backbenchers and ministers alike, that this is all only going one way and will invariably slide towards a very ugly place,” Mr Ellwood added.
Mr Mangnall joined the rebel ranks on Wednesday afternoon, tweeting: “Standards in public life matter. At this time I can no longer support the PM.”
Nadine Norris, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, replied saying: "The defining mission of the PM & this government is to level up the whole of the UK. On the very day we are setting out steps to make this happen, a handful of egos want to make it all about them. It's selfish, doing Labours work and it’s really not helping their constituents."
A confidence vote will be triggered if Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, receives 54 letters – 15% of the parliamentary party – calling for a poll.
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