A FURIOUS Conservative member spoke called up Radio 5 Live just minutes after she quit the party because of Boris Johnson – and candidly explained why.
Melanie called Naga Munchetty’s show on the radio station as the presenter and commentator guests discussed Johnson’s performance at Prime Minister’s Questions.
During the weekly session, the Prime Minister said he’d ordered an investigation into claims Downing Street staff broke lockdown rules by holding a Christmas party last year and told MPs he was “furious” about footage apparently showing aides joking about it.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: 'Boris Johnson not being truthful about No10 Christmas parties'
But Labour chief Keir Starmer said Johnson’s apology “raises more questions than answers” as he had been “caught red-handed” – and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on the Prime Minister to resign.
“Millions of people now think the Prime Minister was taking them for fools, that they were lied to. They are right aren’t they?” Starmer put to Johnson in the Commons.
A number of Tory MPs are now speaking out against Johnson’s handling of the reported parties in Downing Street while the public faced tough Covid restrictions.
Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who was given a peerage by Johnson, tweeted earlier to say “none of this is remotely defensible”.
“Today's ‘we'll investigate what we've spent a week saying didn't happen and discipline staff for rules we continue to say weren't broken’ was pathetic,” she added.
Meanwhile rumours that Johnson will introduce further coronavirus measures this afternoon have fuelled anger further, with one Tory MP calling it a “diversionary tactic” that “few will be convinced by”.
Around half an hour after PMQs, caller Melanie was put through to the 5 Live show. She explained she had just quit the party minutes into PMQs.
“I’ve always voted Conservative,” she explained. “I only became a member when Boris came to the forefront, I really liked Boris.” However, Melanie said recently she’d started to “doubt” things.
“Watching that today, I immediately emailed Conservative membership and said just cancel my membership. I resign. I will not support Boris,” she told listeners.
Asked why, and if Johnson could say anything to change her mind, Melanie went on: “I resigned five minutes into PMQs. It’s just barefaced lies.
"I just cannot believe what he says anymore. He was there, backed into a corner ... I am at the point I just think he needs to resign. I think he’s doing an injustice to anybody who’s ever voted Conservative.”
Munchetty brought up Johnson’s insistence that the public wants the Government to focus on the day job rather than playing politics during the PMQs exchange, asking if Melanie agreed.
“I don’t think he’s doing a job tackling anything today,” she scoffed. “I just think it’s just been disaster after disaster. I fully supported him during Covid – I was one of the people who didn’t get to see my mum last Christmas …” It then sounds like Melanie begins to cry.
“And that’s hard, you know. That’s hard.
“And the thought that they were having a party. I don’t care Boris, step away, you go away and let somebody else be a leader.
“I’m not saying I’ll vote Labour. But I can’t support Boris any longer, just can’t do it – and cannot support the party while Boris is leader.”
During PMQs, Blackford demanded the Prime Minister’s resignation, saying he “can no longer lead on the most pressing issue facing these islands”.
Blackford said: “Trust and leadership is a matter of life and death. Downing Street wilfully broke the rules and mocked the sacrifices we have all made, shattering the public trust. The Prime Minister is responsible for losing the trust of the people. He can no longer lead on the most pressing issue facing these islands.
“The Prime Minister has a duty, the only right and moral choice left to him: it is for his resignation. When can we expect it?”
Johnson replied: “The party opposite and indeed the other party opposite are going to continue to play politics. I am going to get on with the job.”
Also during the PMQs, the prospect of a third Downing Street party was brought up. So far, only two had been discussed.
Blackford said “authoritative reports” now suggested three parties has taken place in Downing Street last December, while varying levels of Covid restrictions were in place.
READ MORE: Downing Street Christmas party: Scottish Conservative MPs silent on scandal
Raising a point of order, Blackford said: “People throughout these islands have been watching this debate today, people feel revulsion at the stories that have emerged, in particular the video last night.
“What is worse Prime Minister, what is worse Mr Speaker, is that there are now authoritative reports of not just one, not just two, but three different Downing Street parties during lockdown last Christmas, including one in the Prime Minister’s flat?
“What do we have to do on this side of the House to make sure the Prime Minister takes responsibilities for his breach of trust, for the breach of Covid regulations, and he does the right thing on behalf of all the people on these islands, and he resigns right now?”
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “Can I just say it is a very tense moment for the House and I just want to try and calm it down. What I would just say is we can’t continue a debate after it has already gone on.
“What I would say is I am not aware of any media attention, what I would also say is it is not for me to rule on something that happens in Downing Street. What I would say is you have got it on record and we can leave it at that.”
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