Scottish Tories demand Boris quits over party with leader saying PM’s position is ‘untenable’

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Scottish Tories in open revolt as they demand Boris quits over garden party with leader Douglas Ross saying PM’s position is ‘untenable’

  • PM admitted he attended the No10 garden ‘party’ during lockdown in May 2020 
  • Tory leader north of the border Douglas Ross has called PM’s position ‘untenable’
  • He was backed by his predecessor and prominent Johnson critic Ruth Davidson 

By Harriet Line Chief Political Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:


Scottish Tories were in open revolt last night as they heaped pressure on Boris Johnson to quit.

Their leader north of the border, Douglas Ross, said the PM’s position was ‘untenable’ after he admitted attending a Downing Street party during lockdown.

‘I said yesterday if the Prime Minister attended this event in Downing Street on May 20, 2020, he could not continue as Prime Minister so, regretfully, I have to say his position is no longer tenable,’ he told STV News.

Scottish Tories leader Douglas Ross is leading the calls for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to quit

‘There was one simple question to answer yesterday, indeed, from Monday night when we saw this invitation which was to more than 100 people asking them to join others in the Downing Street garden and bring their own booze.

‘If the Prime Minister was there, and he accepted today that he was, then I felt he could not continue.’

His predecessor, Ruth Davidson, a prominent critic of Mr Johnson, backed Mr Ross. She said of his comments: ‘A tough call to make. But the right one.’

Jackson Carlaw, another former Scottish Tory leader, also demanded Mr Johnson go, along with other Conservatives MSPs.

Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson (pictured with successor Douglas Ross in 2021) has said that while its 'a tough call' she feels it's 'the right one' that he should stand down

Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson (pictured with successor Douglas Ross in 2021) has said that while its ‘a tough call’ she feels it’s ‘the right one’ that he should stand down

He tweeted: ‘Given that the PM has now confirmed he attended a rule-breaking gathering, he has lost the confidence of the country, so I believe Douglas has made the right call and that the PM should stand down.’

At a meeting with MSPs last night, Mr Ross told them that Mr Johnson had told him he could not guarantee there would not be more revelations.