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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
World
JJ Donoghue

Bristol MP Darren Jones mistaken by BBC for Chris Bryant as he grilled Boris Johnson

A Bristol MP was mistaken for another MP as he grilled Boris Johnson today. North West Bristol MP Darren Jones questioned the Prime Minister at the House of Commons liaisons committee, against a political backdrop which has seen a slew of government ministers resign, including Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid.

But there was some confusion when Jones was mislabelled as Chris Bryant by the BBC. On the televised hearing on BBC News, Jones was labelled as the MP for Rhondda in Wales, who is also on the committee.

The PM was scheduled to appear before the committee to answer questions on government policy, and Jones took the chance to ask him to resign. He started by asking him how his week is going, and Johnson replied that it has been "terrific" and "like many others".

MORE - Boris Johnson faces increasing pressure to resign - live updates

Jones asked whether Michael Gove had told him to resign, and Johnson dodged the question and said he won't give a "running commentary". Jones then moved on to ask the PM if he recognised a quote.

He quoted: "When a regime has been in power for too long, when it has fatally exhausted the patience of the people and when oblivion beckons, I am afraid that across the world you can rely on the leaders of that regime to act solely in the interests of self preservation, and not in the interests of the electorate."

When Johnson failed to answer, Jones pointed out to him that he was quoting the Prime Minister himself. Jones then moved on to call for Johnson's resignation.

"I made a joke there but in all sincerity, I know this must be difficult for you personally, this isn't funny," he said.

"It's not a game. People are struggling across the country. It's not brave for you to carry on doing this.

"In my view you're hurting the country, Prime Minister, on a very human level. You must know that it's in the country's interest for you to leave now."

Johnson replied that he would not resign because of the problems facing the country and the Ukraine crisis, and said: "I can't for the life of me see how it is responsible to walk away from that."

Follow live updates on the resignations.

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