BOURNEMOUTH MP Tobias Ellwood described as “almost delusional” Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s behaviour in the past two days.
Mr Ellwood said it had been a “very traumatic period” but with Mr Johnson’s resignation set to be announced it was important the Conservative Party united around the next leader.
The Bournemouth East MP and defence select committee chair has been an outspoken critic of Mr Johnson’s leadership for many months.
He grilled the Prime Minister on defence policy at Wednesday afternoon’s liaison committee meeting.
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Following that meeting Mr Johnson was reportedly urged to step down by several cabinet ministers.
Time to hand on the baton. https://t.co/SJDYpGyy6s
— Tobias Ellwood MP (@Tobias_Ellwood) July 7, 2022
After digging in on Wednesday night despite further resignations, it has been widely reported on Thursday morning that he will now resign.
Mr Ellwood told the Daily Echo: “It has been a very traumatic period and many of us were calling for this many months ago as we recognised the erosion of trust and the fact that it was going to be increasingly difficult to win the next general election.”
Mr Ellwood said it was important for a leader to be appointed to create a new team that he hoped could go forward positively over the next two years towards the next election.
“The behaviour of the Prime Minister was almost delusional,” said Mr Ellwood.
On what needs to happen now, he said: “We need to move quickly so we can unite and press forward.
“We need to move through the next process in a unified manner.”
Mr Ellwood was one of the first select committee chairs to question the Prime Minister at Wednesday’s session.
Discussing the liaison committee meeting, Mr Ellwood said: “To me it felt like a parallel universe. While we were discussing important areas of policy, we could see scrolling on the Twitter feeds that the resignations were continuing. It was very strange.
“There was an anticipation it would end at 5pm on Wednesday evening but it has take place a little more than 12 hours later.”
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