Sturgeon calls on Johnson to resign after Christmas party controversy

Nicola Sturgeon has called for Boris Johnson to resign amidst controversy over claims a Christmas party was held at Number 10 last year during Covid restrictions.

The First Minister said the Prime Minister has “many questions to answer”, as she described Johnson as “corrupt”.

The issue was raising during FMQs at Holyrood on Thursday by Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay.

“At a time of national crisis, not only did those in his (Johnson’s) inner circle deliberately breach the very rules they (the UK Government) had set down for the public, they’ve continually tried to cover it up,” said Mackay.

“And now footage shows them laughing about it while planning their excuses. This is no laughing matter for those of us who have lost a loved one during the pandemic.

“Boris Johnson has jeopardised public compliance with Covid measures. Does the First Minister agree with me that it is time for this corrupt Prime Minister to go?”

Sturgeon agreed with the call from Mackay for Johnson to go, adding that Scotland should also get rid of the “broken” Westminster system.

She responded: “Yes, I do. While Gillian Mackay was asking a question there, I had members of the Tory group shouting at me from a sedentary position that these issues had nothing to do with us here in the Scottish Parliament.

“Well, I beg to differ. I think the principles and the values of openness, integrity and transparency matter to all of us who care about democracy in this country.

“I think Boris Johnson has many questions to answer, there are more questions surfacing today around the whole Downing Street wallpaper issue, but I’ll leave them to one side.

“I don’t think it is simply a corrupt incumbent of Number 10 that has to go, I think it’s time for Scotland to get rid of the whole broken, corrupt Westminster system that is holding us back.

“And we can only do that by becoming an independent country.”