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Statement on Downing Street parties - the Prime Minister must go

I share the anger of people up and down these isles regarding the multiple parties that took place in Downing Street during lockdowns the past couple of years. Worse still, the Prime Minister has admitted attending at least one of these parties.

People across Scotland have made huge sacrifices over the months to obey the rules, such as stopping seeing loved ones, struggling on with childcare despite falling unwell, and – heartbreakingly – accepted they cannot be with family or friends in their final moments.

It is appalling that Boris Johnson and Downing Street threw all these rules to the wind, and worse still that his government are defending him.

The apology he has given will not wash. He’s not sorry about the party, he's sorry he got caught. He didn’t offer to resign. He didn’t consider resigning. That is unacceptable.

I completely understand the strength of anger and dismay my constituents, and the wider public, feel towards the Prime Minister, and I am 100% agreement with them on this issue.

There cannot be one rule for them and another for the rest of us.

Boris Johnson must do the first honourable thing he's ever done throughout in his career - resign.

However, I fear the only way Boris can be removed is via his own backbenchers, and whilst I know there is serious anger amongst them, I’m less confident in them have enough of a spine to do the right thing.

I can assure my constituents that my colleagues and I will continue to call for his resignation and exert as much parliamentary and political pressure on the government as possible.