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Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale says Tory party can't afford luxury of leadership contest after the PM and Chancellor are fined for breaching lockdown rules

A Kent MP has said that the Conservative party cannot afford the luxury of a leadership contest after the news that both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak have been fined for breaching lockdown rules.

The North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale, who has previously said the PM should consider his position if he was found to have misled Parliament over whether he had attended social gatherings at Downing Street, said the war in Ukraine was a priority and the question of the PM's position should not detract from that.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are to be issued with fines for breaches of Covid-19 regulations. Picture: Matt Dunham/PA Wire
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are to be issued with fines for breaches of Covid-19 regulations. Picture: Matt Dunham/PA Wire

He added: “What I have said is that I feel very strongly that the Prime Minister has misled the House and that is a serious matter that he is answerable to the House for, but we are in the middle of an international crisis.

"Now is not the moment for the Conservative Party to allow itself he luxury of a leadership election.

"So that is something that's going to have to go on hold for a while.

"We've got to get through the international situation and we cannot allow ourselves the luxury of doing anything or saying anything that would give comfort to Putin in the belief that it might destabilise in some way the coalition and the sanctions against him.

Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale. Picture: UK Parliament official portraits
Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale. Picture: UK Parliament official portraits

"I'm concentrating on the international situation and on the domestic situation insofar as we've got to get the refugee situation sorted out."

Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst has tweeted in support of the PM, saying "this is not the time to change our leader".

She said: "The PM has apologised, accepted responsibility & made changes accordingly in No10.

"This is not the time to change our leader. His focus must be on what’s happening in Ukraine and dealing with the cost of living challenges our country and people are facing."

Meanwhile, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, Damian Collins has followed suit.

"The PM rightly apologised for lockdown parties that took place at 10 Downing Street," he said.

"He should never have been put in this position & that's why reform was needed in the way Downing Street is run. The parties are over and it's time to get on with the job. He has my full support."

Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer has called for Boris Johnson to quit.

Analysis

Surviving in politics can often be a case of being able to shrug off different events that might prove a challenge to others with less resilience.

The Prime Minister has a reputation for his capacity to ride out crises that might be beyond others. Often with a sense, say his critics, of entitlement and a mindset that he can break the rules with impunity.

Boris came to power on the back of a claim that he would ‘get Brexit done.’ He succeeded where Teresa May had failed; then had the job of managing the Covid pandemic, which led to thousands losing their lives; and is now in the midst of an international conflict.

The partygate saga was the only story in town for a while.

Then came conflict in Ukraine, which overshadowed everything and to some made the row over what constituted a party seem less important.

The war in the Ukraine has overshadowed everything. Picture: Efrem Lukatsky/AP
The war in the Ukraine has overshadowed everything. Picture: Efrem Lukatsky/AP

The news that he has been fined for attending a ‘social gathering’ in contravention of lockdown rules brings the whole partygate row back into focus.

To be the first PM to be fined for breaking the law while in office is most definitely not what Boris wants to be his legacy.

A poor result in the forthcoming local elections could, however, accelerate his demise. The Conservatives have a ruthless streak when it comes to leaders: if they sense they are a liability rather than an asset, there is no room for sentimentality.

For now, though, the jury is out.

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