After Partygate: Scottish Tory boss calls for Johnson's resignation

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Douglas Ross

Photo: Fraser Bremner;

Daily Mail / dpa

When the UK faced a tough lockdown in May 2020, Boris Johnson attended a garden party at his official residence.

The British head of government apologized for this in the House of Commons - but his words apparently did not appease the outraged in his own party either.

The question is whether Johnson can stay in office if he also loses support with the Tories.

Now Douglas Ross, head of the Scottish Conservatives, has asked Johnson to resign.

First, "Sky News" reported about it.

According to this, Ross is said to have personally suggested the prime minister resign in a conversation.

"I regret to say that his position is no longer tenable," Ross said of Johnson.

He spoke to Johnson that afternoon, "gave him my reasons and explained my position."

This makes Ross the first leading Tory politician to openly call on the head of government to give up office.

Previously, some in Johnson's party had raised a resignation.

"If the prime minister knowingly attended a party, I don't know how he can survive after accepting resignations for far less," Conservative MP Nigel Mills told the BBC.

“We now know the Prime Minister spent 25 minutes at what was clearly a party.

That means he has deceived Parliament, ”said Tory MP Roger Gale.

Johnson is now a "dead man walking", a premier on call.

The party took place on May 20, 2021.

At that time in Great Britain it was only allowed to meet someone from another household in the open air, provided you kept your distance.

At that time he came to the garden of his official residence to thank employees, Johnson said in parliament.

At the time, he assumed a working meeting in accordance with the applicable pandemic rules.

After about 25 minutes, he went back to his office, the prime minister said.

Johnson: Should have acted differently

In retrospect, Johnson admitted he should have acted differently.

He apologizes "heartily" and takes responsibility for the "mistakes" that have been made.

He knows that millions of people across the country have made great sacrifices in the past few months.

He knew about the suffering they went through, said Johnson in parliament.

It was his first public appearance since details about the party became public.

However, Johnson rejected calls for resignation from the opposition.

He asked to await a report that officer Sue Gray is currently preparing on the incidents.

Labor leader Keir Starmer accused Johnson of insulting the population with his statement.

His defense that he did not know he was at a party was ridiculous, Starmer said in parliament.

He accused Johnson of "lying in print".

"The party's over, Prime Minister," Starmer said.

The only question is whether the British people will kick him out of office, his party, or whether he will do the only decent thing and step down.

The revelations about a garden party in May 2020 at the government headquarters on Downing Street with dozens of guests had put Johnson's government under heavy pressure in the past few days.

During the lockdown, many Britons were unable to even visit dying relatives in hospital.

The police imposed numerous fines for violating the rules.

According to media reports, more than a hundred guests received an invitation to the garden party on May 20, 2020, including the Prime Minister and his current wife, Carrie.

Around 40 government employees accepted the invitation and were asked to bring their own alcohol.

The London police said on Tuesday that they were investigating possible violations of lockdown regulations at the seat of government.

Johnson's government had already come under severe criticism several times in public and within its own ranks for alleged violations of the self-imposed corona rules.

svs / dpa