ANDREW Bowie has become the first Scottish Tory MP to publicly speak out against Boris Johnson – but stopped short of calling for his resignation.
It makes him at least the 45th Conservative MP to question the party's leadership in recent days.
The Aberdeenshire and West Kincardine MP wrote on his website that “every MP will be considering how best to move forward” following the publication of Sue Gray’s report into lockdown-breaking Downing Street parties.
The former vice chairman of the Conservative Party has a majority of fewer than 1000 votes in his constituency and is likely to be concerned about the Scottish Tories’ declining support north of the Border.
Bowie also serves as chairman of the Union 1922 Backbench Policy Committee – and will have fears over the SNP’s ability to capitalise upon the partygate scandal.
The MP told his constituents: “I was utterly appalled by the events that were confirmed to have taken place in the Sue Gray Report. I was even more disgusted by the contents of some of the emails and the attitude towards the cleaning and security staff in Number 10.
“Having worked in Number 10 Downing Street, I know how stressful an environment it can be. I can only imagine how much more so it would be in the circumstances that we were living through at the time. However, that is no excuse for breaking the rules that were set in that very building and speaking down to loyal and hardworking staff that keep Number 10 clean and secure.
“I am pleased that a number of staff who were involved in the events outlined by Sue Gray have been removed from post. And that a number of changes have been made in how Downing Street operates to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
He went on to say while the Prime Minister apologised, the events still happened under his watch.
“I know every MP will be considering how best to move forward from this. It is essential that whatever we decide, that decision is taken in the best interests of the country,” he said.
“That is the challenge that faces us all.”
Bowie’s boss, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, has U-turned a number of times on his support for the Prime Minister.
While he called for Johnson’s resignation at the start of the partygate saga, he then changed his mind following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and argued a change of leader would be inappropriate at this time.
After the publication of Gray’s damning report, Ross told Sky News he doesn’t want a change of prime minister – but believes Johnson should leave post when the war in Ukraine is over.
His bizarre turnaround led one of his own MSPs to say Ross has left the party in a “f****** mess”, and another described the position as “unsustainable”.
Former Tory MSP Adam Tomkins has suggested that continued backing for the Prime Minister would lead to "terminal decline" for the party. Scottish Conservative silence around partygate has been touted as one of the reason's for their dismal local election results last month, which saw Labour take over as the second largest party.
Despite Bowie’s intervention, his colleagues John Lamont, David Duguid, Alister Jack and David Mundell (above) have still failed to speak out.
It comes after Mhairi Black called for the group to be bold and take action against their law-breaking Westminster boss.
“The spineless six Scottish Tory MPs need to step up and do the right thing by submitting their letters of no confidence in this partygate Prime Minister," the shadow Scotland secretary said.
“Boris Johnson broke the law - the only sitting Prime Minister to do so in history - and he must be held accountable. It’s shameful that so far Douglas Ross, Alister Jack and the rest of them have failed to condemn his rule-breaking by calling for his immediate resignation in the wake of the Sue Gray report.
“Ross in particular must have motion sickness with the amount of U-turns he’s taken over this issue.
“By keeping quiet, the Scottish Tory MPs are showing the people of Scotland that they think Boris Johnson’s behaviour is acceptable and that they believe it’s one rule for them, and another for the rest of us. Scotland needs rid of this ‘old boys club’ at Westminster, and the only way for that to happen is through independence.”
