Having had the opportunity to speak directly to my local councillors and council candidates yesterday evening, I can now confirm that I have submitted a letter to Sir Graham Brady requesting a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson's leadership.
I wrote my letter following Prime Minister's Questions on January 12th, when I could not square the Prime Minister's words from the despatch box with his previous statements to the House before Christmas. Subsequently I have also struggled to reconcile assurances given directly to me with the implications of Sue Gray's interim findings.
As someone who backed Brexit and backed Boris Johnson for the leadership in 2019, I am profoundly disappointed that it has come to this. The Government that the Prime Minister has led has delivered some huge successes, including the vaccine rollout and nearly £35m for Newcastle-under-Lyme to level up.
However, the breach of trust that the events in No 10 Downing Street represent, and the manner in which they have been handled, makes his position untenable.
I believe it is in the country's best interests that this matter is resolved as soon as possible. I do not intend to comment further at this time.