This Tory MP’s description of Boris Johnson wasn’t the ringing endorsement he intended
On Monday, the government won the confidence vote it had brought against itself, after refusing Labour’s motion on the topic. It was preceded by more than two hours of MPs either worshipping Johnson as God’s gift to politics or telling the truth – depending on their party allegiance.
He is a law-breaking Prime Minister who cannot be permitted to remain in office – even as a caretaker. His dishonesty and abuse of power have served to erode trust in politics. @Plaid_Cymru does not have confidence in this Prime Minister or this government. #VoteOfConfidence pic.twitter.com/1YEBhqdREg
— Liz Saville Roberts AS/MP 🏴 (@LSRPlaid) July 18, 2022
Despite the recent mass resignation of Tory MPs who expressly stated they no longer have confidence in the PM, only one – Tobias Ellwood – failed to support the government, because he was in Moldova, and he paid the price.
I do hope nobody thinks I would be so petty as to remove the whip from Tobias Ellwood just because he has repeatedly criticised me and was one of the first to call on me to resign.
— Parody Boris (@Parody_PM) July 19, 2022
Sir Edward Leigh had no such problem, and his support for the PM was unwavering.
Ironically, one of the most comprehensive murders by words of the day. Adam Bienkov summed it up.
Boris Johnson is not "the worst sort of mass murderer and criminal in political history," says Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh. pic.twitter.com/WtjpT098wY
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) July 18, 2022
The MP’s dubious endorsement got pretty much the response you’d expect.
1.
'Yeah, please stop sticking up for me, mate." https://t.co/19VEwZkPwp
— Nick Pettigrew🇺🇦 (@Nick_Pettigrew) July 18, 2022
2.
My t-shirt saying “Boris Johnson isn’t the worst sort of mass murderer and criminal in political history” is getting a lot of questions already answered by the shirt https://t.co/Dvj7ehF8aZ
— Tories That Are Helping (@RalphWiggumMP) July 18, 2022
3.
A suitable epitaph. https://t.co/9fGb3QkYea
— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) July 18, 2022
4.
I think, we all think, that the barometer for the Leader of a G8 nation should be a *teensy* bit higher than “not a mass murderer”
Call me Mr Picky-Pants if you like https://t.co/GWQtej7Op7
— Disappointed Optimist (@disappoptimism) July 18, 2022
5.
Must get him to write me a reference. https://t.co/2cNn61o7Jt
— Stephen Graham 🇺🇦 (@StephenCVGraham) July 18, 2022
6.
Oh well, that's okay then. Bloody hell, how low is the bar they have set? https://t.co/uuFblElhST
— Daniel Sohege 🧡 (@stand_for_all) July 18, 2022
7.
Just the man least suited to holding our country's highest office https://t.co/cQZCEgQJVi
— Steve Rotheram (@MetroMayorSteve) July 18, 2022
8.
aww shucks u guys https://t.co/b1fryrU7ey
— tanvi (@Tanvim) July 18, 2022
9.
And the 2022 "Damning with Faint Praise Award" goes to… https://t.co/Kfbw2wmKAD
— Brooke Harrington (@EBHarrington) July 18, 2022
It reminded at least one person of a very different farce.
This is like the Major in Fawlty Towers remonstrating with the American who says the hotel is the worst he'd been to. "No! I won't have that! There's a place in Eastbourne…" https://t.co/Kj8aEFVx5k
— timpelan (@johnneyred) July 18, 2022
Any excuse to share a comedy classic …
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This Welsh MP’s point-by-point takedown of Boris Johnson’s ‘big calls’ was magnificently done
Source Sky News H/T Adam Bienkov Image Screengrab