A FORMER Carlisle MP has criticised Boris Johnson’s decision to stay-on as Prime Minister until autumn, despite resigning on the steps of Downing Street this week.

Boris Johnson announced his resignation as Conservative Party leader, and therefore Prime Minister on Thursday, it follows weeks of pressure from both sides of the House of Commons.

Despite losing the confidence of his own party after months of controversy, Mr Johnson has pledged to stay on until a new leader of the party is selected, this could mean that he remains as Prime Minister until the Autumn.

The decision has drawn the ire of the opposition who believe it is undemocratic and believe he should step aside immediately.

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Former Labour MP for Carlisle Eric Martlew said: “We’ve got to remember that Boris thinks differently to everybody else, all his political life it’s been about Boris.”

Mr Martlew said that the idea the public voted for Mr Johnson personally is “outrageous.”

“Are we going to have a situation where Boris is going to be Prime Minister until October? The country is already a global laughing stock.”

Mr Martlew said that it could be a winter of “hardship” if the cost of living crisis gets any worse.

He believes that the Conservative Party’s poor showing in elections to the new Cumberland Council was a message from the public.

“What they should be thankful for is the election was in May not July because it would have been even worse for them.”

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Senior Conservative John Mallinson was vocal in his criticism of Boris Johnson after polling day. The leader of Carlisle City Council was one of seven Conservatives voted onto the new unitary council.

Chairman of Carlisle Conservatives James Bainbridge said: “Although I didn’t vote for Boris during the last leadership election I am sorry to see him depart. He has grown on me over the years and I wish him well for the future.

“We owe much of our success in forming an administration on Carlisle City Council due to his popularity over the years and his personal backing of many millions of pounds into Carlisle’s infrastructure through various investment schemes such as Levelling-Up, Towns Deals and the Future High Streets Fund.”

Councillor Bainbridge said that he hopes Carlisle “will reap the benefits of his policies in terms of our economic growth for many years to come and long after the present day critics in the council chamber have been forgotten.”

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