The leader of the Conservative group on Cheshire East Council has called on Boris Johnson to 'do the decent thing and resign'.

Janet Clowes was speaking this afternoon (Wednesday) following a raft of resignations from the government.

Cllr Janet Clowes told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "I would ask Boris Johnson to think seriously about his position, the impact that his behaviour has had on the rest of the country and to do the decent thing and resign."

Cllr Janet Clowes

The Tory group leader said Mr Johnson had steered the country through some difficult times but now was the time for him to go.

"We are living in rapidly changing times and, bearing in mind the last two and a half years have been extremely traumatic for everybody, it needs to be said that, as our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has steered us through some very difficult challenges and has delivered, as far as anybody can, on Brexit, bearing in mind that a process that took 40 years in the making is going to take more than two years to dismantle," said Cllr Clowes.

"In addition, his performances whilst open to genuine criticism, and I acknowledge that, have generally been extraordinarily successful during Covid, not least the vaccination programmes that have protected our population in a way that is second to none across the world.

"However, whilst important legislation has continued to be delivered, not least the levelling-up agenda and all the benefits that's bringing to Cheshire East, we definitely need new leadership.

"And to lose so many important members of his cabinet and of his wider team suggests that that time is now and so I would ask Boris Johnson to think seriously about his position, the impact that his behaviour has had on the rest of the country and to do the decent thing and resign."

Cllr Clowes' comments come shortly after Crewe and Nantwich MP Dr Kieran Mullan told the LDRS 'new leadership' was needed.

"The agenda for levelling up this country that the PM has laid out is the right one, but it's clear now that we need new leadership to deliver it," said Dr Mullan, who voted against Boris Johnson in last month's no-confidence vote.

And a statement issued by Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson's office said: "Mr Timpson has already placed on the public record his views on regrettable decisions made by some members of HM Government and its staff.

Edward Timpson MP

"His views remain unchanged, and his focus continues to be on his Eddisbury constituents and improving the life chances of young people, as it has been since his election in December 2019."

The Eddisbury MP was highly critical earlier this year of the antics of those involved in the Partygate scandal.

In April he told the LDRS it is shameful those setting the rules didn't follow them during lockdown.

And he said at the time he hoped his response showed that 'backbench, constituency MPs like me are not prepared to defend the indefensible'.

At the time of writing today, more than 30 MPs have resigned from government posts.

These include former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and former Health Secretary Sajid Javid as well as Will Quince, Alex Chalk, Robin Walker, Victoria Atkins, Jo Churchill and Stuart Andrew who have all resigned from ministerial positions.

Others include several parliamentary secretaries, among them Laura Trott and Jonathan Gullis.

The LDRS has contacted the offices of Congleton MP Fiona Bruce, Tatton MP Esther McVey and Macclesfield MP David Rutley for comment but has not yet received a response.