Just Say Sorry For The Mess, Prime Minister

BORIS Johnson has been urged to say ‘sorry’ for igniting the divisive Westminster lobbying row.

- Macer Hall

The Prime Minister has emphatically refused to apologise despite the growing pressure from Tory MPs.

In the face of fury from the opposition and deep misgivings from many on his own side, Mr. Johnson stayed away yesterday from an emergency Commons debate over parliamentary standards.

MPs angry over how former Tory grandee Owen Paterson’s conduct was handled expressed their dismay yesterday.

And former chief whip Mark Harper was among those urging the PM to say sorry.

Mr Harper said on Twitter: “Politics is a team effort. If the team captain gets their side – from backbenchers to senior Ministers – into difficulty when they get something wrong, they should apologise to the House.

“That’s leadership. We need to see more of it.”

Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay expressed “regret” to MPs about the botched attempt to overhaul standards rules.

Angry opposition MPs accused Mr Johnson of acting like a “tinpot dictator” and likened his behaviour to Russian and Chinese rulers during last night’s debate.

Mr. Johnson yesterday declined to face the Commons for the debate, with his aides insisting he had a prearranged commitment to visit Hexham General Hospital, in Northumberland.

Pressed by reporters to apologise for the sleaze row during his visit, he said: “What we’ve got to make sure is that we take all this very seriously and that we get it right.