Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley did not hold back with his questions when Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth appeared on Tuesday’s instalment of the ITV news programme. Madeley quizzed Ashworth on the ‘Partygate’ scandal surrounding the Prime Minister and the Conservative party. The news host went as far as to ask Ashworth about deposing the leader while Labour was “ahead in the polls”.
Madeley said: “Is it in the interests of the Labour Party, the opposition, to have Johnson out of office because at the moment, with him there, you’re double figures ahead of him in the polls.
“You’re at 10 percent, so surely it would serve you better in the coming elections in May, and when a general election comes, based on those poll figures at the moment to have him still there?”
Ashworth replied: “It’s tempting to go down that particular avenue but I always believe you have to act in the national interest and the national interest comes ahead of your party’s interest.”
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The 43-year-old politician added: “Boris Johnson has disgraced Downing Street when we need a government completely focused on families, workers and pensioners tackling poverty and tackling this cost of living crunch that is coming in the awful April.”
Labour is now holding the largest lead of any political party since May 2020, according to the latest polling by Redfield and Hilton Strategies.
Labour is on 43 percent, which is up four percentage points on last week.
However, the Conservatives are on 30 percent, which is down five percentage points. The company sampled 2,000 eligible British voters.
The accusation comes as civil service investigator Sue Gray concludes her investigation into the government’s “Partygate” scandal.
Johnson apologised for the May 20 Downing Street party in parliament last Wednesday but added he was outside for 25 minutes and believed it was a work event.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have been calling for Mr Johnson to resign.
Andrew Bridgen on Friday became the fifth Conservative MP to publicly declare they have written to the chairman of the 1922 Committee, which organises Tory leadership contests, to say they have no confidence in Johnson.
A total of 54 Conservative MPs have to write a letter to trigger a vote.
The Prime Minister also apologised to Buckingham Palace for two staff parties on April 16 2021, the night before Prince Philip’s funeral.
As of January 14, seven parties were allegedly held at Downing Street in 2020 and 2021, while Covid restrictions were in place.
A further five parties in other Government departments and the Conservative party have also been reported.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab was quizzed by Sally Nugent on Tuesday’s instalment of BBC Breakfast about Cummings’ allegation Johnson lied in parliament.
She asked Raab on multiple occasions if he believed a minister should resign if they lie to parliament.
Raab finally replied to the question after Nugent asked it for the third time by saying: “Yes.”
Good Morning Britain continues weekdays on ITV between 6am and 9am.