Douglas Ross withdraws calls for Boris Johnson to go
Douglas Ross is withdrawing his letter calling for Boris Johnson to quit as Prime Minister.
Douglas Ross is withdrawing his letter calling for Boris Johnson to quit as Prime Minister.
The Scottish Tory leader says the focus should be on the Ukraine crisis rather than resignations.
It comes after it was confirmed the PM will attend the party's conference in Aberdeen next week.
"Not the time to be discussing resignations"
Douglas Ross said: "The middle of an international crisis is not the time to be discussing resignations, unless it’s the removal from office of Vladimir Putin.
"There will be a time and place to debate partygate but, as even Keir Starmer said at the weekend, we should put that on pause while there is war in Europe.
"It's essential that we all fully support what the UK Government is doing. In light of Russia's appalling actions, the government and Prime Minister need our backing, and they have mine and the whole Scottish Conservative party.
"We should all be focused on what we can do to help the Ukrainian people in any capacity."
Commenting on news that Douglas Ross has withdrawn his letter to the 1922 Committee Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said:
"We are right to be defending democracy in Ukraine, but that doesn't mean we stop doing democracy at home.
"This is a Prime Minister that has broken his own laws and shown contempt for the people of the UK.
"Douglas Ross should not be using the Ukraine crisis to go back on his principles.
“He knows Boris Johnson is not fit to be Prime Minister.
"The United Kingdom, including Scotland, deserves better."
'Backbone of a jellyfish', says Willie Rennie
LibDem Willie Rennie MSP said: “Douglas Ross and the Scottish Conservatives have the backbone of a jellyfish.
“Their limited welcome betrays a deep embarrassment that they are lumbered with a Prime Minister that they are ashamed of because of his double standards over parties in Downing Street.
“It is difficult to change Prime Minister in the midst of an international crisis when we should be focusing on assisting the people of Ukraine but he should have been gone long before now.”