Boris Johnson: Welsh Tory leader regrets former PM's departure

Boris Johnson claimed his "removal" was the "necessary first step" by some who oppose him, "to take revenge for Brexit and ultimately to reverse the 2016 referendum result"

Things have gone "tragically wrong" for Boris Johnson, according to the leader of the Welsh Conservatives.

But Andrew RT Davies said he did "regret that the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has left the stage".

Mr Johnson stood down as an MP on Friday after receiving a report on whether he misled parliament over parties held at Downing Street during lockdown.

The former prime minister accused the inquiry of trying to "drive me out".

Labour MP for Gower, Tonia Antoniazzi, said she was "glad" Mr Johnson had stepped down and described him as a "waste of space".

She added: "It's been a long time coming. Let's move on and build a better politics."

But Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said he was "sorry" to see Mr Johnson go.

"As far as I'm concerned, Boris got it right on Ukraine, Boris got it right on the vaccine programme and Boris had it right on Brexit," the Conservative Monmouth MP said.

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In evidence given to the Privileges Committee in March, Mr Johnson admitted misleading parliament, but denied doing it on purpose.

He said social distancing had not been "perfect" at the Downing Street gatherings.

But he said they were "essential" work events which he claimed were allowed.

In a statement following his resignation, Mr Johnson, who was prime minister between 2019 and 2022, said: "They have still not produced a shred of evidence that I knowingly or recklessly misled the Commons."

Describing the report, he said it was "riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice".

Andrew RT Davies told Saturday's BBC Radio Wales Breakfast: "I do acknowledge that things went tragically wrong towards the end of his tenure as a prime minister.

"And, obviously, that had to be drawn to a close and events that have happened over the last couple of days have obviously taken many people by surprise."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions programme, David TC Davies said: "I make no apologies for saying that I really like the guy and I'm sorry he's gone."

Other Welsh politicians shared their thoughts, including Leanne Wood, who was Plaid Cymru leader between 2012 and 2018.

Responding to the resignations of Mr Johnson and former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, she said: "Would love today's [Saturday's] resignations to kickstart a sea-change in the way in which society values integrity and accountability in the political world.

"It doesn't need to be this way. Always hopeful."

Other politicians took to social media, including Labour MP for Ogmore, Chris Elmore, who said: "To the very last, he couldn't be honest. Forced out? More like found out."

Hywel Williams, Plaid Cymru MP for Arfon, said: "Dorries and Boris, a shameful and shameless double act leave the stage.

"Two pantomime villains who revelled in wreaking havoc during our darkest hours."

Cardiff Cental Labour MP Jo Stevens said Mr Johnson had "debased our country's reputation, our politics and our democracy. It's entirely his fault and no-one else's."

On Saturday, Selby & Ainsty MP Nigel Adams, a former Under-Secretary of State for Wales, became the third Conservative in Westminster to announce his resignation.