A BOURNEMOUTH MP has reiterated his call for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign, saying the war in Ukraine is no reason to delay such a move.

Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East, said the conflict should not be used as a “fig leaf” to dodge questions that “we must address”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Mr Ellwood, who is also chair of the Commons Defence Committee, said: “There’s not going to be a lull in the fighting, no pause just around the corner, for us to take stock of domestic matters.

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“Every month, every year, European security is going to deteriorate well beyond Ukraine, and history anyway shows that we can and do replace leaders in times of crisis.

“We did in fact replace the head of the armed forces just as recently as December, as Russian troops were amassing, with an admiral with no combat experience.

“But critically, our formidable Government apparatus, our well-oiled MoD machine, allows us to do just that – to replace people if that is required.

“Our approach to Ukraine would remain consistent, so I do hope that we won’t use the war as a fig leaf to dodge these tough questions that, absolutely, we must address.”

The MP also said Mr Johnson should hold a vote of confidence if the May local elections go badly for the Conservatives.

He continued: “We’d like to see the United Kingdom as a beacon of democracy, an exemplar on the world stage.

“So for me, it’s actually a worrying turning point when we lose sight of those high standards, as ironically they’re being eroded across the world.

“I mean, back to Ukraine, something Putin will no doubt exploit – how can a lawmaker also be a law breaker? This is not a good look.

“I think the Prime Minister has made his intentions clear – he wants to stay – but this is this is bigger than the Prime Minister.

“It’s about the reputation of the party for which all colleagues must defend, and I believe he owes it to the parliamentary party, once the reports have concluded and the local elections have allowed the public view to be factored in, to agree to hold his own vote of confidence if those elections go badly.”