Suffolk MP declares no confidence in PM Boris Johnson
He confirms that he has written a letter to the 1922 Committee
Waveney MP Peter Aldous has told us he believes the Prime Minister must resign, and has written to the 1922 Committee in Parliament expressing no confidence in Mr Johnson's leadership.
It comes after a report into the alleged breaking of lockdown rules at Number 10 Downing Street during various periods of the pandemic by civil servant Sue Grey was published yesterday, which found a 'serious failure of leadership' at different parts of Number 10 and the Cabinet Office and 'some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did'.
In a statement, Mr Aldous tells us, "The Prime Minister has many attributes, one of which used to be the large groundswell of support he generated across the whole of society. I fear that based on the feedback that I am receiving that this has dissipated, that many question his integrity and that it will be very difficult for him to regain this trust.
"It is now my belief that the Prime Minister should resign. However, it is clear that at present he has no intention of doing so and I have therefore written to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee of Backbench Conservative MPs, advising him that I have no confidence in the Prime Minister as Leader of the Conservative Party.
"I have made this decision after a great deal of thought and soul searching and I had hoped that I would not be placed in such an invidious position. Whilst I am conscious that others will disagree with me, I believe that this is in the best interests of the country, the Government and the Conservative Party."