Dowden’s bombshell departure
BORIS Johnson has suffered a bombshell resignation from his frontbench team with the departure of the chairman of the Conservative Party.
Oliver Dowden quit his role minutes before he was due to defend the Prime Minister in a round of broadcast interviews following the confirmation of the hammering for the Tories in two by-elections.
In a scathing resignation letter, he said someone had to “take responsibility” for the defeats.
His exit, given his previous firm support for the PM, was seen as a bitter blow to Number 10 last night.
The former Culture Secretary declined to express support for Mr Johnson continuing in Downing Street.
Distressed
Mr Dowden said the by-elections defeats were the “latest in a run of very poor results for our party”.
He wrote: “Our supporters are distressed and disappointed by recent events and I share their feelings.
“We cannot carry on with business as usual.
“Somebody must take responsibility and I have concluded that, in these circumstances, it would not be right for me to remain in office.”
Mr Dowden said it had been “an honour to serve” in the Cabinet.
He added: “I want to emphasise that this is a deeply personal decision that I have taken alone. I will, as always, remain loyal to the Conservative Party.”
Mr Johnson, who is attending a Commonwealth Summit in Rwanda, spoke to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Tory ChiefWhip Chris Heaton-Harris by phone after Mr Dowden’s shock resignation. The PM said: “I want to say a big thank you to Oliver Dowden, who’s just resigned.
“He’s been an excellent party chairman, was a very good Culture Secretary, did a lot of good with broadband rollout, and set up the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.”
A Tory party source said the PM was swimming in his hotel pool at 6am local time and then received the call from Mr Dowden.
Mr Johnson was said to be surprised by the resignation and believes there is “no rush” in replacing him.
The source attributed some blame for the electoral losses on the “nonsense” of the media’s “endless reportage and Kremlinology of Partygate”. Home Secretary Priti Patel said Mr Dowden’s resignation was a “loss” to the Government.
She said it is “important that we really reflect” on the by-election results, while also recognising the contests were fought against a “difficult and challenging backdrop”.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak said on Twitter: “I’m sad that my colleague and friend Oliver Dowden took the decision to resign this morning.
“We all take responsibility for the results and I’m determined to continue working to tackle the cost of living.”
Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, a frequent critic of the Prime Minister, said that Mr Dowden’s resignation was “honourable”.