'Enough is enough' - Sunderland MPs call for change as 'hapless' Boris Johnson set to quit as Prime Minister

The embattled Prime Minister announced his intention to quit early this morning (Thursday, July 7) as the stream of ministerial resignations continued to mount.

And the decision was confirmed in a statement to the nation today, in which the Tory leader promised to give “as much support as I can” to his successor.

It caps a fraught period for the Government, which has seen dozens of senior figures abandon their ministerial posts, rather than continue to serve in the wake of the row over the handling of allegations against deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.

City leaders from all parties had already united in calling on the Prime Minister to go, while also blasting Conservative MPs to had kept him in power.

Bridget Phillipson, Houghton and Sunderland South MP and shadow education secretary, called the Prime Minister’s impending departure ‘welcome news’.

She added: “It is clear he has always been unfit for office, and this should have happened long ago – all those who have been complicit should be utterly ashamed.

“The Conservative Party has inflicted chaos upon the country during the worst cost of living crisis in decades. They cannot pretend they are now the ones to sort it out.

“The damage done during their 12 years in government is profound: 12 years of economic stagnation, 12 years of declining public services, 12 years of empty promises. Enough is enough.

“We don’t need to change the Tory at the top, we need a change of government.”

Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott also backed calls for a change of government.

She said: “It has taken yet more bluster and lies for Tory MPs to finally topple the hapless Prime Minister, but it is important to remember that these Conservative MPs were happy to back the Prime Minister as he lied, and lied again.

“Whilst the cost-of-living crisis goes on, living costs spiral and waiting lists are as long as ever, we are going to face a summer of Conservative infighting, as they forget they serve the country, not themselves.

“It is time the Tories stepped aside. It’s time for change.”

Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson agreed “enough is enough”, but warned “changing the Tory at the top won't fix the rotten body beneath”.

Johnson’s departure was welcomed by his own party on Wearside.

Antony Mullen, leader of Sunderland City Council’s opposition Conservative group, urged the Prime Minister to stand down earlier this year, in the wake of the damning Sue Gray report and linked his determination to cling on to a disappointing set of results for the Tories in May’s local elections.

He said: “Nobody should be in any doubt that this is a situation of [Boris Johnson’s] own making.

“It was clear then that this was always going to happen - and those who prolonged his tenure should excuse themselves from the forthcoming leadership contest.

“Their continued public support for him made it difficult for me to challenge the our political opponents locally and resulted in hundreds of Conservative councillors losing their seats [across the country].

“We need a new leader, sooner rather than later, who will restore dignity and trust in national politics.”