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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Ian Blackford calls for General Election if Boris Johnson won't resign as Prime Minister

Ian Blackford has called for a general election if Boris Johnson does not resign.

The SNP leader at Westminster said Scotland wanted "a different future not just a different Prime Minister" during a rowdy session of PMQs today.

Johnson was rocked last night by the shock resignation of two of his most senior Cabinet members, Rishi Suank and Sajid Javid.

More than a dozen junior government members have since quit and called for the Tory leader to leave Downing Street in the hours since.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson LIVE updates as more resignations put pressure on Prime Minister

That prompted Labour leader Keir Starmer to back calls for a snap general election.

But one Nationalist initially dismissed that idea. Speaking to Sky News last night, Stirling MP Alyn Smith was asked if it was the party’s position that it would be calling for a snap election.

Smith said: “No it’s not. Our priority is an independence referendum, we’ve set out our timetable on how to achieve that."

His comments were seized on by Labour members on social media who claimed it was proof the SNP preferred having the Conservatives in power at Westminster.

Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray said: "They have form.

"In 1979 they gleefully brought in 18 years of Thatcherite government. I recall Tommy Sheppard said in a Commons debate they’d do it again. They’ve confirmed tonight that to be true."

But less than 24 hours later, Blackford took a different position in the House of Commons.

He said "I am sad to say the Labour party now fully supports Brexit. Scotland wants a different future not just a different Prime Minister.

"So if the Prime Minister won't resign, will he call a general election, and allow Scotland the choice of an independent future, free from the control of Westminster?'

Johnson claimed that Labour "wanted to go back in" the EU just as the SNP did.

He added: "As to the referendum that he wants, well we had one, as I've told him before, in 2014."

The PM was also branded the "best recruiting sergeant" for independence by Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts.

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