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Douglas Ross withdraws 1922 letter calling for Boris Johnson to go, saying Vladimir Putin would benefit in Ukraine conflict


By Lewis McBlane

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DOUGLAS Ross says criticism of him for withdrawing his letter to the 1922 Committee is opposition "for the sake of it".

Douglas Ross, Party Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party..Picture: James Mackenzie..
Douglas Ross, Party Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party..Picture: James Mackenzie..

Speaking to the Scot, the Moray MP and Scottish Conservative leader said his decision to resume his support for Boris Johnson was because of the Ukraine situation, rather than domestic politics.

He said: "I took the decision back in January to hand in the letter, based on all of the information and the Prime Minister's own admission that he had been at these parties, that I couldn't continue to support him as leader and as Prime Minister.

"I did that back in January and I was very up-front and honest about it.

"However, the world has moved on considerably in just two short months and if we look back at the last two weeks the illegal, abhorrent invasion by Russia into Ukraine and a war between two sovereign European countries has changed the situation.

"While I still hold the views I did about the appropriateness of the Prime Minister attending these events during lockdown, I think all focus right now has to be on defeating Russia.

"All of that combined led me to the conclusion that, while I have previously held a position on the Prime Minister's future, now is not the time to be calling for him to resign."

Critics savaged the Scottish Tory leader yesterday for withdrawing his letter.

Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said: “Douglas Ross and the Scottish Conservatives have the backbone of a jellyfish."

Mr Ross responded to these barbs by questioning the honesty of their statements.

He said: "While I understand other political parties have criticised this, I would simply question if anyone in the SNP or in the Labour Party really thinks this is the time to start a leadership election and replace a Prime Minister, which would take a significant amount of time.

"Actually, the position I have confirmed this week is the same position that Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour Party took at the weekend.

"So while I think opponents understandably oppose for the sake of it, they have also got to be honest and admit that now is simply not the time to replace the Prime Minister."

When asked further about his motives for rolling back his opposition, Mr Ross returned to the situation in Ukraine.

He said: "First of all I was in the Chamber of the House of Commons when President Zelensky addressed the MPs and Members of the House of Lords and took us through the war, day by day.

"He started on day one, then day two, and continued with what he and his fellow countrymen and women have gone through for what is now over a fortnight.

"And he spoke on Tuesday about how 50 kids, 50 children, had already lost their lives as a result of this conflict.

"Then, on Wednesday evening, we had the horrific images of the Russians bombing a maternity hospital – they targeted pregnant women and small children.

"We know now that three people died in that bombing, including a child."

Clues about how Boris Johnson and Douglas Ross might work together, moving forwards, might be found at the UK Conservative Party conference, on March 17-18.


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