Devon councillor raises concerns over housing and Levelling Up after PM's resignation
Councillors and MPs have welcomed Boris Johnson's decision to stand down
Last updated 8th Jul 2022
The Tory leaders of West Devon and South Hams have welcomed Boris Johnson's resignation as leader of the Conservative party.
The PM quit as Tory leader after dozens of his MPs revolted and left him unable to persuade cabinet colleagues he could continue in his role.
Mr Johnson said, although he was leaving his role as party leader, he will stay on as Prime Minister until the autumn; a move strongly criticised by opposition MPs as well as some Tories.
As many Conservative MPs jumped from what they saw as a sinking ship, Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove was fired after he urged the PM to resign.
A source at No 10 said: "You can’t have a snake who is not with you on any of the big arguments who then gleefully tells the press the leader has to go".
The events have led to both relief and concern among leading councillors.
Conservative leader of West Devon Cllr Neil Jory (Milton Ford) said: "I have been very concerned at recent events that have meant that the focus of government has been diverted from the very important issues that currently face us all.
"I was particularly disappointed with the loss of Michael Gove from his post as secretary for levelling up; he has been an effective friend of local government since his appointment.
"The resignation of the prime minister appears to now be the only way forward and I hope will enable the government to get back on track.
"For our part in West Devon, our focus remains very firmly on local issues – inward investment into the area to create jobs and boost the local economy, our housing crisis, the needs of our most vulnerable residents arising from the cost of living crisis, rural poverty and accommodating our guests under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
"We'll continue to work for the benefit of our residents and we will continue to support Team Devon and to work with and lobby government ministers to that end".
Concerns over housing and Levelling Up in Devon
The leader of South Hams District Council, Judy Pearce (Salcombe and Thurlestone), said of the resignation: "In the circumstances I am not surprised.
"The lack of ministers is much more worrying. Michael Gove was turning out to be a superb secretary of state at DLUHC and we were due to have meeting with the (now ex-)housing minister, Stuart Andrew, next week.
"Given the housing crisis in Devon and the problems with short term lets taking so many properties out of the long-term letting market here, it's very worrying that we are likely to lose the momentum and traction that it has taken us many months to build up on both these matters with the department.
"What will now happen to the Levelling Up Bill is also of concern".
Meanwhile, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport insisted Boris Johnson's should not wait until the autumn to step down as PM.
"Boris Johnson needs to go now, not cling on to power for months with a government that’s not functioning", said Mr Pollard and he criticised Devon's Tory MPs for their previous support.
"He was always unfit for office, but the rot doesn’t stop at the top. Tory MPs in the south west and across the country propped him up for too long, complicit in his lies, deception and disregard for public office".
Plymouth Labour leader Cllr Tudor Evans OBE (Ham) added: "How can you not be in charge of your party and be in charge of the government when you’ve got a situation where 50-odd ministers have resigned?
"Who is he going to replace them with? I mean, he’s already got the bottom of the barrel".
Who could replace Boris Johnson?
Liz Truss - Winner
The Foreign Secretary has made little secret of her leadership ambitions, with a series of high-profile interventions and photo opportunities in which she appeared to be channelling late PM Margaret Thatcher.
Her hard line on Ukraine, insisting Russian forces must be driven from the country, and threats to tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU, play well with sections of the party.
Away from politics, Ms Truss's flair for social media has seen her offer an insight into life outside of Westminster by updating her Instagram account with pictures of her relaxing at the beach, or behind the scenes at official events, though her passions combined to bizarre effect in 2014 when her improbably enthusiastic speech about opening pork markets in Beijing went viral.
Rishi Sunak - Defeated in the final two
The former Chancellor's rise from relative obscurity to household name came as he turned on the spending taps to protect jobs through the furlough scheme when the coronavirus pandemic struck.
But his stock took a tumble more recently following disclosures that his wife had non-dom status for tax purposes, and that he was too slow to respond to the cost-of-living crisis
Penny Mordaunt - Eliminated
Ms Mordaunt made waves in 2019 as the UK's first female defence secretary before being fired by Mr Johnson shortly after becoming PM.
Ms Mordaunt has many strings to her bow - she is a Royal Navy reservist, the current trade minister and a former reality television contestant, having appeared on the Tom Daley-fronted diving show Splash.
She played a prominent role in the Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and has previously reportedly enjoyed the backing of Dame Andrea Leadsom among others.
Kemi Badenoch - Eliminated
Former equalities minister and MP for Saffron Walden Kemi Badenoch threw her hat into the ring with a plan for a smaller state and a government "focused on the essentials".
Ms Badenoch said she will deliver tax cuts "to boost growth and productivity and accompanied by tight spending discipline". Ms Badenoch may be considered an outsider for the leadership given the Tory grandees already in the running, but her profile was boosted by an endorsement from Michael Gove on Sunday.
Tom Tugendhat - Eliminated
Eliminated. The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat became the first contender to officially throw his hat in the ring, saying he was putting together a "broad coalition" offering a "clean start".
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, the former soldier said: "I have served before – in the military, and now in Parliament. Now I hope to answer the call once again as prime minister."
Suella Braverman - Eliminated
Attorney General Suella Braverman was one of the first to openly say that she would stand in a leadership contest as she called for the Prime Minister to quit.
Jeremy Hunt - Eliminated
Failed to secure enough MP votes in the first round.
The former foreign secretary and ex-health secretary has been a persistent backbench critic of Mr Johnson and had called on the Prime Minister to quit.
Mr Hunt is making a fresh bid for the leadership, having been runner-up to Mr Johnson in 2019.
Nadhim Zahawi - Eliminated
Failed to secure enough MP votes in the first round.
The former education secretary is regarded by some as a "safe pair of hands" if other candidates prove too divisive
Iraqi-born Mr Zahawi was a successful businessman and came to wider prominence as vaccines minister during the pandemic where he was credited with playing a key part in the successful rollout of the jab.
Sajid Javid - Withdrawn
Sajid Javid pulled out of the race to succeed Boris Johnson as Tory leader moments before the official nominations were revealed. In a statement, the former health secretary said: "Serving in Government is a true privilege. It has been just seven days since I took the difficult decision to resign from the most important job I have ever had, as health secretary during a pandemic.
"Since then, I have set out the values and policies I think are right for the future of our great country. I believe the party must now look outwards, not inwards, if we are to win again.
"There is an abundance of both ideas and talent in our party. One of the candidates will be given the honour of becoming Prime Minister.
Rehman Chishti - Withdrawn
The newly appointed Foreign Office minister announced his bid for the top job via a Facebook post but withdrew from the race tweeting "I will not be taking my campaign any further for the leadership of our party as I have not been able to secure the necessary parliamentary backing".
Grant Shapps - Withdrawn from contest
The Transport Secretary had put himself forward as a leadership candidate, but withdrew from the contest after it was announced that candidates would need 20 MPs to back their nomination.
In a tweet, he said he was now supporting former chancellor Rishi Sunak: "Amongst a field of brilliant candidates, I've spoken to Rishi Sunak who I believe has the competence and experience to lead this country."
Steve Baker - Not running
Prominent Brexiteer and former minister Steve Baker, a senior Tory backbencher had said he was considering running for the position, but eventually dropped out of the leadership race and announced he will support Suella Braverman.
Ben Wallace - Not running
The Defence Secretary was an early favourite for the leadership but ruled himself out on Saturday.