Scottish Tories deserted Boris Johnson in confidence motion

Mr Ross said he had heard "loud and clear" the anger over the breaking of Covid rules in Downing Street

Four Scottish Tory MPs confirmed they voted against Boris Johnson in the confidence motion which the prime minister has won.

Scottish leader Douglas Ross was first to reveal his intentions.

Scottish Borders MP John Lamont also voted against the PM, as did former Scottish Secretary David Mundell and West Aberdeenshire MP Andrew Bowie.

Dumfries and Galloway MP, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, supported Mr Johnson, along with David Duguid.

The confidence vote result was announced at 21:00 with Mr Johnson winning by 211 to 148.

Mr Ross, MP for Moray had said in January that Mr Johnson should resign over Partygate - but then withdrew the call in March because of the war in Ukraine.

On Monday, he said he had heard "loud and clear" the anger over the breaking of Covid rules in Downing Street.

John Lamont also announced that he has resigned as parliamentary private secretary to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss after voting against Boris Johnson.

Mr Bowie said he was "utterly appalled" by the Sue Gray report.

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Last month, when her report into Downing Street parties was published, Mr Ross said on balance he still believed Boris Johnson should remain as leader.

He said toppling him would cause instability that would benefit Vladimir Putin, but added the PM would still have to go if an inquiry found he had misled parliament.

On Monday, Mr Ross said the timing of the vote was "far from ideal" given the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He said that while he had not sought to bring about the vote, it was going ahead and he had considered whether he should support the PM.

"I have heard loud and clear the anger at the breaking of Covid rules that we all did our best to follow, and even more so at the statements to parliament from the prime minister on this topic," he said.

"Having listened closely to people in Moray who re-elected me to represent them, and from many people across Scotland, now that this confidence vote is upon us, I cannot in good faith support Boris Johnson.

"My vote tonight will support the motion of no confidence."

John Lamont, who represents Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, said that "after considerable thought and reflection", he had made the "very difficult decision" to resign as parliamentary private secretary to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss after voting against Boris Johnson.

He said: "I have consulted widely with my constituents in the Scottish Borders. I've also received thousands of emails and had countless conversations about the prime minister's performance over the last few weeks and months.

"The events in Downing Street during the lockdown were unacceptable. People across the country have been rightly deeply angered by what went on.

"Whilst I recognise that changes have been made in Downing Street, the unfortunate reality is that the government has become overwhelmed by these events, to the detriment of my constituents and people across the United Kingdom.

"The amazing work that this government is doing in Scotland and across the UK is increasingly being overshadowed."

He added: "This has been an incredibly difficult decision. I know that many colleagues have been wrestling with their conscience during today and I respect that some MPs will have reached a different conclusion."

'Tremendous leadership'

Mr Mundell, MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, tweeted: "After a difficult couple of years and listening to the views of my constituents, I voted tonight for a fresh start and new leadership for our country."

The Conservatives have six MPs in Scotland, meaning a majority are now calling for the prime minister to go.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said on Monday: "The prime minister has my full support, and I will be voting to back him tonight.

"He is showing tremendous leadership as we face major challenges at home and abroad.

"I have no doubt that my colleagues in the parliamentary party will vote to show their confidence in the prime minister."

David Duguid, MP for Banff and Buchan, also backed the prime minister.

He said: "Since this situation arose, I've repeatedly expressed my concerns at the behaviour and culture that was reported at Downing Street and the Cabinet Office.

"It's absolutely right that there was an investigation carried out and Sue Gray's final report has acknowledged changes have already been made.

"Nothing that's happened in the last 24 hours has changed my opinion on whether or not the prime minister needs to resign so tonight I voted against the motion of no confidence."

He added that he felt this was in the best interests of the country "with our recovery from the pandemic and the global inflation pressures that have yet to hit us fully".

1922 Committee

It was confirmed on Monday morning that a vote of confidence in Mr Johnson was to be held.

A vote is triggered when at least 15% of Tory MPs write to the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs - currently Sir Graham Brady - saying they no longer have confidence in their leader.

There are 359 Conservative MPs, which means at least 54 have sent letters of no confidence. Mr Ross was not among the 54 whose letters triggered the vote.

Tory MPs are now gathering to vote on whether they still have confidence in their leader.

Mr Johnson will need at least half of Tory MPs to affirm their confidence in his leadership in order to survive the vote.

The outcome of the vote should be known about 21:00.

'Fresh start'

Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Conservative leader, has already said Mr Johnson's position is untenable.

On Monday, she said Tory MP Jesse Norman was right to withdraw his support of the PM after accusing Mr Johnson of presiding "over a culture of casual law-breaking" in relation to Downing Street parties.

Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser urged MPs to oust Mr Johnson, adding that the country should have a "fresh start" under a new leader.

Fellow Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour also said he did not have confidence in the prime minister.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Mr Johnson was not fit to be PM, and "there cannot be any more flip-flopping from Douglas Ross", adding that Scottish Tory MPs had shown "craven loyalty to Boris Johnson".

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Douglas Ross had to stand up to Boris Johnson, while Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said Mr Ross, and his colleagues at Westminster, had to "bring an end to Boris Johnson's utterly inept premiership".

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said Mr Ross and other MPs had shown a lack of courage and decency by failing to oust him already.