Johnson fit for office despite Partygate scandal, insists Scottish Tory leader

The Prime Minister has been under pressure after receiving a fine from police for attending a gathering in Downing Street during lockdown

Douglas Ross had previously called for the Prime Minister to stand down over the partygate saga (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

The Prime Minister is “fit for office”, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has said amid continued criticism over parties in and around Downing Street during lockdown.

Boris Johnson has been under pressure in recent weeks after he – along with his wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak – received a fine for one of the gatherings.

Mr Ross, who had previously called on the PM to quit before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has backed Mr Johnson.

He is fit for office to continue with what the UK Government have done, his Government has done, to help the people of Ukraine

Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative leader

He had submitted a letter to the backbench 1922 Committee pushing for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, but has since rescinded it.

Speaking to the Scotsman, Mr Ross was asked if the Prime Minister is fit for office.

He said: “Yes, because he is leading the UK response to this crisis at the moment.

“But that doesn’t in any way diminish what he did and the actions that have been taken by those who investigate it.

“He is fit for office to continue with what the UK Government have done, his Government has done, to help the people of Ukraine.

“That’s not just me saying it, that’s President (Volodymyr Zelensky) who singled out Boris Johnson as a Western leader who has provided some of the greatest support.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has come under renewed pressure recently over the partygate saga (Rob Pinney/PA) (PA Wire)

“That relationship I don’t believe should just be cut off because clearly President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine welcome the support they’ve had from the Prime Minister and the UK Government.”

Mr Ross also said he had not seen anything that would “change his mind” on the Prime Minister’s position.

“Would it have been credible for me to have kept my letter in if at the same time I was saying ‘we have to be united in standing with the people of Ukraine’, in the same way that Keir Starmer said as the conflict started now wasn’t the time to replace the Prime Minister,” he said.

“(SNP Westminster leader) Ian Blackford stood up in the House of Commons and called for unity. I agreed with them when they said that.

“I just haven’t seen anything to change my mind that has potentially changed theirs.”