Politics RECAP: Former leader of Conservative Party Michael Howard calls for Boris Johnson to resign
Oliver Dowden has resigned as chairman of the Conservative Party after it suffered two by-election defeats, saying in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson that “someone must take responsibility”.
In Tiverton and Honiton the Liberal Democrats overturned a 24,000 Tory majority to win, while in Wakefield, Simon Lightwood was elected with a majority of 4,925 on a swing of 12.7% from the Tories to Labour.
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Wakefield was one of the so-called red wall seats won by the Tories in the 2019 general election after being Labour since the 1930s.
Boris Johnson has said he will “listen” to voters but will “keep going” after the Tories suffered a double by-election defeat.
Politics LIVE: Pressure mounts on Boris Johnson as Oliver Dowden resigns as Tory chair after Conservatives lose two by-elections
Environment minister and Boris Johnson ally Zac Goldsmith appears to have criticised Oliver Dowden for resigning after the Conservatives suffered two by-election defeats on Thursday.
Replying to previous tweets in which he had been critical of Mr Dowden, Lord Goldsmith tweeted on Friday morning: “Many, if not most politicians will enthusiastically embrace an idea if they think it helps them personally, but they will just as enthusiastically ditch it if they think that helps their fortunes. This is true of all parties.”
His tweet also contained a clip of Mr Dowden at the Conservative Party’s spring forum calling for “a bit less net zero dogma”.
Former leader of the Conservative Party Michael Howard has called for Boris Johnson to resign, the BBC has said.
The corporation quoted the Tory peer as telling its World at One programme: “The party and more importantly the country would be better off under new leadership.”
In a post on the World at One’s Twitter account, the BBC says he added: “Members of the Cabinet should very carefully consider their positions.”
The Tory’s 24,000 majority in Tiverton and Honiton had been replaced by a 6,000 majority for the Lib Dems and Labour had won back Wakefield, one of the seats seized by Mr Johnson as he led the Conservatives to a massive majority in 2019.
The Tories’ by-election defeats are not an “indictment” of the Prime Minister, Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has said.
Asked about calls by former Conservative Party leader Michael Howard for Boris Johnson to resign, Mr Houchen told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme: “Obviously what he said should be listened to.”
He pointed to the “complicated” and multi-faceted reasons behind the results, saying he agreed with voters’ concerns over rising prices and that “the Government isn’t moving as quickly as I would like” on tackling the crisis.
“Ultimately the responsibility does lie with the Prime Minister for all of those reasons … cost of living, inflation all of those things … People will look at the Prime Minister for direction of travel and that’s what he needs to get a grip of,” Mr Houchen said.
He argued it would look “ridiculous” for the party to have a leadership contest in this context.
Labour’s by-election victory in Wakefield was a “stunning result”, shadow secretary for levelling up Lisa Nandy said as she credited Sir Keir Starmer for convincing people to “have a fresh look” at the party.
She told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme: “What’s being lost in all of this is that Wakefield is not a safe Labour seat.”
Ms Nandy said she had been pessimistic after Wakefield was won by the Tories in the 2019 general election as one of the so-called red wall seats, but that she did not get the sense it was a permanent change when campaigning in the West Yorkshire seat.
She said the Labour leader has “sorted out the problems in the party, he’s persuaded people to have a fresh look at us”.
“We’ll never be complacent … but this is a stunning result for the Labour Party and it really has lifted us right across the country”.