Guildford’s MP Rejects Calls to Resign As a Tory Saying ‘I Am a Conservative to My Bones’

Published on: 5 Jul, 2022
Updated on: 8 Jul, 2022

Angela Richardson MP

By Martin Giles

Guildford’s MP, Angela Richardson, has rejected calls for her to resign from the Conservative party in the wake of the political turmoil that continues over Boris Johnson’s leadership.

She said her lack of confidence in the prime minister stems from the lack of remedial action following publication of the full Sue Gray report into “Partygate”.

On her Twitter account she said: “To everyone calling on me to resign the whip and stand as an independent, you are failing to understand that I am a Conservative to my bones. I believe the Conservatives can, should and will deliver the best local and national government for people, which is why I will work hard every day to try and deliver for the people I am privileged enough to represent.

“I am lucky enough to work alongside colleagues in both national and local government who feel exactly the same.”

It would be easy in all the noise tonight of resignations and new appointments to forget why we have landed here today of all days. The operation around the PM for all the words and all the promises has failed to deliver any material changes since Sue Gray recommendations.

Ms Richardson retweeted the series of resignation letters that have been published during the evening responding to Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor: “I’m grateful for all your efforts as our CX through covid and beyond. Standards in public life matter. Thank you for the principled stance you have taken this evening.”

And to Sajid Javid, the former Health Secretary, she said: “You’ve been excellent in your work ensuring safety for women and children. Thank you!”

Earlier she emphasised her connection with voters locally and elsewhere, and her solidarity with those who have resigned. She said: “Rather than wrapping myself in the Westminster bubble I’ve regularly knocked doors in my patch and in many by-elections over many months. I promised at hustings in 2019 to hold the PM to account. I no longer have a role to resign but stand with colleagues who do tonight.”

If there is to be a change of leadership, as many senior Conservatives are saying is now inevitable, local political observers will be watching to see who Angela Richardson supports and what role she might play in any campaign.

Responses to Guildford’s MP Rejects Calls to Resign As a Tory Saying ‘I Am a Conservative to My Bones’

Dave Fielding Reply

July 6, 2022 at 12:01 am

If Boris Jonhson is still PM come the next general election, our MP’s position will be interesting.

Will she say, “Vote for me as a Conservative even if I have no confidence in the current PM?” even though by voting for her one could be supporting his continuance as prime minister.
Richard Charman Reply

July 6, 2022 at 7:43 am

As someone said on the radio this morning, the Conservative party. Shame on it. It is the Brexit party. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Conservative Party has, I have long argued, been taken over lock, stock and barrel, by UKIP.
- Stuart Barnes Reply
  
  July 7, 2022 at 8:23 am
  
  If only Richard Charman was right.
  
  Regrettably, instead of being the “Brexit party”, under Boris, it has turned out to be a wet, pathetic party of green liberals.
  
  Let us hope that when Boris is carried kicking and screaming out, he will be replaced by a genuine Conservative who will obey the wishes of the electors and complete the Brexit we voted for, in addition to switching to actual Conservative policies.
  
  We have been voting Conservative for years but the only time in living memory that we got an actual Conservative government was when the great Lady Thatcher was PM.
  - David Roberts Reply
    
    July 8, 2022 at 6:27 pm
    
    Was that the same great Lady Thatcher who promoted the European Single Market, UK membership of the Exchange Rate Mechanism and the European Single Act, and who always maintained a broad range of “wet” and “dry” Tories from all wings of the party in her cabinet?
    - Stuart Barnes Reply
      
      July 10, 2022 at 10:37 am
      
      It was the great Lady Thatcher who, once she had experienced the corrupt and hated EU at first hand, rapidly decided that it was not reformable and therefore worked hard to start the battle to get us out.
      
      If only such a figure were available now.
      - David Roberts
        
        July 10, 2022 at 11:42 am
        
        I worked for Margaret Thatcher throughout her time in office and can confidently say that she never once advocated leaving the EU. Nor did she do so in retirement either, as far as I know.
        
        Though opposed to federalist ideas pushed by the European Commission, she was always a champion of a strong Europe of nation states and of closer intergovernmental cooperation via the European Council. She was especially keen on the UK’s crucial role as a bridge between the EU institutions and the US.
        
        The Single Market, which we’ve now abandoned, was Thatcher’s creation. She was a nationalist but never a Little Englander.
Jim Allen Reply

July 6, 2022 at 11:27 pm

Perhaps if people looked at the precise details of all these hysterical accusations they might realise it is simple bullying. These constant screams of “liar” are very tiresome.

For example, who can control a situation while unconscious from a critical care hospital bed? Who can tell what is going on miles from their location? These Remainers, the left-wing press and those who, across the board, failed in their own professional duties and personal behaviour, it is time they took a good look at themselves.

These insurrectionists should look to their own behaviour and ask what is ‘my’ end game? To return to the EU against the democratic vote, be over-run by Russia, as both Labour and the Conservatives look for a new leader, or become a vassal state of China?

No one is perfect and the picking on one person by a “herd”, in my book is simple bullying, be it a schoolchild or our prime minister. Victims of bullying never are at their personal best.
Dave Fielding Reply

July 8, 2022 at 2:38 pm

In response to Jim Allen, the analogy to a “ herd” is incorrect, it’s more a dam breaking, weakened and undermined by constant dishonesty by one man. I suspect quite a few ministers were seriously cheesed off having to defend the indefensible. The end game is an honest leader who puts the country first.
- Jim Allen Reply
  
  July 8, 2022 at 9:48 pm
  
  So the bullying left-wing press and the Remainers’ constant sniping had nothing to do with events leading to the current situation?
  
  The comment simply doesn’t hold water.
Dave Field Reply

July 9, 2022 at 11:22 pm

The Express, The Star, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Times, The Sun, I’d struggle to classify any of these as left-wing.

Boris is the cause of his own downfall. As The Sun would say, it’s the Tories what done it.