Senior Conservative MSPs have backed the removal of Boris Johnson from office - piling pressure on party leader Douglas Ross to echo their call.
Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith, two of Ross’ shadow cabinet colleagues, said they would vote for change if they were at Westminster. Jeremy Balfour also said the PM should go.
Johnson’s premiership is hanging by a thread after Tory MPs forced a vote on his future this evening over the partygate scandal.
If he loses, he will resign and a leadership contest will likely take place to elect a new leader who will become PM.
Eyes are on Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, who initially called on Johnson to quit, only to u-turn weeks later.
His latest position has been to back Johnson leaving office after the Ukraine crisis is over. He has a vote tonight as he is an MP and MSP.
Fraser, who represents Mid Scotland and Fife, said he would vote to get rid of Johnson if he were an MP.
He tweeted: “I don’t have a vote in tonight’s ballot in the House of Commons, but if I did I would be voting for change, and I would urge MP colleagues to vote accordingly. The country needs a fresh start under new Conservative & Unionist leadership.”
Smith also told the Record: “I’m very much of the view that Boris Johnson should go. If I was an MP, that’s how I would vote.”
Balfour, a Lothians MSP, told the BBC this morning: "I think Douglas made a position, which I think is a very fair one, These are not easy decisions to make. And each individual has to come to their own mind on this.
"I think Douglas was right, previously, to withdraw his letter, because things were different in Ukraine at that point. I think things have moved on. And personally, I do think it's now time for the Prime Minister to go."
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “If the Conservative party has any credibility left, they must boot out Boris Johnson – If they do not, it is down to the people of Britain to do that job at the next election.
“Douglas Ross pretends to be the great defender of the United Kingdom but everyone knows that Boris Johnson is a disaster for the UK and a gift to those who wish to break the UK up.
“Today, Douglas Ross and his Scottish Tory MPs have a choice. Are they on Boris’s side or Britain’s?
“Just like Boris Johnson, Douglas Ross’s leadership is over – standing up to Boris is his last role of the dice."
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