Former Cumbrian MP Rory Stewart says Boris Johnson was “unsuited to be Prime Minister from the beginning” and branded him a liar.
In a scathing attack on his former Conservative Party colleague, the ex-Penrith and the Border MP told Sky News yesterday, January 20, that the reports surrounding parties at Downing Street “should be the last nail in the coffin”.
“This is a country that has had one of the worst COVID death rates and one of the poorest economic performances in the developed world,” he said.
“In a way it’s ironic that what seems to be bringing down the Prime Minister is the Downing Street party rather than the record of that government over the last year and a half.”
When asked about whether he would resign were he in the same position as the Prime Minister, Mr Stewart replied: “I hope so yes, I believe politicians should resign and I can’t see what future that he has.
“He may be able to survive for another few months but he is badly wounded and essentially in order to be a leader you need credibility, you need supporters, you need energy, you need enthusiasm, you need confidence and those are of course things that Boris Johnson had a great excess of in the last few years and he’s lost it and it’s very very difficult to see that returning and very difficult to see him being a credible leader again.”
Mr Stewart said if reports surrounding Conservative MPs withdrawing letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister being withdrawn after Christian Wakefield defected to the Labour Party “may just prolong the very painful last days of Boris Johnson and end up damaging the Conservative Party brand even more”.
‘Not surprised’ by situation
In the most damaging part of the interview, the 2019 Conservative Party leadership contender was asked whether he was surprised that Mr Johnson had “got himself into this state”.
“Not at all,” he replied.
“We should all have expected this. He’s been a very famous public figure for 30 years. The British public has spent 30 years focusing on the fact that he lies, that he is disorganised, that he betrays almost every personal commitment that he has.
“He was manifestly unsuited to be Prime Minister from the beginning and it’s very very disturbing that a great country like Britain should have chosen somebody so unsuitable for the role.”
Not just about blue or red
Mr Stewart said that what is happening in the country right now can not just be explained by whether someone represents the Labour Party or the Conservatives.
“I think it tells us something about the system, not just the Conservative Party, the Labour Party as well. It’s these are party systems which have got worse and worse in Britain because what they’re fundamentally about is winning, not running the country.
“So the reason people selected Boris Johnson is because they thought he could win a big majority and the risk is that even if they did get rid of Boris Johnson they will select somebody else purely on the basis of whether or not they will win a big majority.
“We need to get beyond that. We need to start selecting politicians who are serious, who are credible and who do their jobs responsibly. That’s a job not just for politicians, it’s a job for the media and the public to make sure that we vote and support people who are good at doing their jobs.”
A report into a series of parties held at Downing Street is expected to be published by senior civil servant Sue Gray next week.
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