MP's 'savage' tweet withdraws support for Boris Johnson while sitting just metres from PM

An East Sussex MP's account tweeted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson while he was grilling the Prime Minister on a committee.

The letter from Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle, said Mr Johnson had failed in judgment, competency and integrity.

At the time the tweet was published, he was sitting opposite the PM at the House of Commons Liaison Committee.

This was not lost on observers watching the grilling unfold live - who reacted with equal measures of shock and glee to the timing of the tweet.

Twitter users branded the timing "savage" and "brutal", with one adding: "This is delicious! I'm reading this whilst watching you question him."

Mr Merriman's tweet came after four MPs from the South quit their posts on Wednesday as pressure on Boris Johnson grew.

Salisbury MP John Glen, Sevenoaks MP Laura Trott and Mid-Sussex MP Mims Davies have all resigned.

Wantage MP David Johnston also quit as a ministerial aide in the Department for Education.

Resigning his post as economic secretary to the Treasury, John Glen told the PM he had a "complete lack of confidence" in his leadership, questioned his judgment and said the country deserved better.

In his letter he wrote: "After much thought and with deep regret I must inform you that I have made the difficult decision to resign from the government.

"It has been a great privilege to serve as economic secretary to the treasury under three chancellors, but I can no longer reconcile my commitment to the role and to the financial services sector with the complete lack of confidence I have in your continuing leadership of our country...

"However, recent events concerning the handling of the appointment of the former Deputy Chief Whip, and the poor judgement you have shown, have made it impossible for me to square continued service with my conscience.

"The country deserves better, and I must return to the backbenches to dedicate myself to the service of the people of Salisbury and South Wiltshire."

The Prime Minister has faced a string of resignations over his appointment of Chris Pincher as his deputy chief whip, despite being aware of previous allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

He apologised on Tuesday, saying he regretted appointing the MP, but for days ministers and officials had been insisting he was unaware of the allegations.

Resigning from her role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Transport, Mims Davies said the Conservatives need a fresh start and she could see no other way forward than this.

Wantage MP David Johnston wrote on Facebook: "I have today resigned as PPS to the Department for Education.

"As most of you will know, education is a great passion of mine and I very much enjoyed working with Nadhim Zahawi and the ministerial team, but I cannot defend what has taken place these past few days – or indeed these past few months.

"When I decided to move from being a charity chief executive to becoming an MP in 2019, most of my family and friends thought I was mad to do so. They are interested in politics and know how much it matters, but they wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole due to the hours, the abuse and the low regard in which many in the public – wrongly in my view – hold politicians.

"I have said in the House of Commons and elsewhere that as elected politicians we are the custodians of politics. We should uphold the highest standards and act in a way that is best for the country.

"We should also consider the politicians who will come after us. It is very important to me that we do all we can to encourage good people into politics so that the country is well served, but events in recent months have made the view of politics and politicians worse and will only put more people off entering it, which I deeply regret.

"I know from my inbox that there are different views about the Prime Minister, but I do not believe he can provide the leadership the country needs.

"I hope those who disagree with this nonetheless understand why I have taken the decision I have. As ever, my main focus will remain trying to be as good a constituency MP as I can be."

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