morning, but 0liver dowden tweeted his resignation just after 5.30. morning, but 0liver dowden tweeted0. he wrote, "0ursupporters his resignationjust after 5.30. he wrote, "0ur supporters are distressed and disappointed by recent events, and i share their feelings. we cannot carry on with business as usual. somebody must take responsibility". these are a really problematic set of results for the conservatives because they show the party losing support in different parts of the country, in the north of england, in wakefield, and here in the south, in tiverton and here in the south, in tiverton and honiton, in what should be safe tory territory. and many conservative mps will be looking at their majorities this morning nervously and asking themselves, not for the first time, is boris johnson for the first time, is borisjohnson still the for the first time, is boris johnson still the best person to lead them into the next general election? well, we could march on downing street, what do you think? cheering a big result for the liberal democrats but it also raises big questions about the p

in the . that 0liver dowden letter. in the wording — that 0liver dowden letter.g that he used he talked about, as — wording that he used he talked about, as you said, cannot go on as business _ about, as you said, cannot go on as business as— about, as you said, cannot go on as business as usual and he says that somebody— business as usual and he says that somebody needs to take responsibility. in a sense he has because — responsibility. in a sense he has because he _ responsibility. in a sense he has because he has resigned, but i also expect— because he has resigned, but i also expect he _ because he has resigned, but i also expect he has somebody else in mind in downing _ expect he has somebody else in mind in downing street. he is not absolutely explicit but the feeling was that — absolutely explicit but the feeling was that these by—election defeats for the _ was that these by—election defeats for the conservatives were priced in, for the conservatives were priced in. there — for the conservatives were priced in, there would be no more pressure reapplied _ i

certainly, the 0liver dowden resignation did has made this a wider conversation and, yet again, throughs that are not happy with boris johnson's formance as leader and that controversy over party gate but there are some who i think would like borisjohnson to lead them into the next election. who? there are some who are saying that he can pull this around but needs to change. but the question is, is he capable of that change and does he want to? and that was the question he was asked this morning on the today programme. i am not hearing you say, "i have heard what the voters have said and i am going to change." yeah, so, what we are going to change, if you want me, sorry, let's just be absolutely clear with each other, if you are saying you want me to undergo some sort of psychological transformation, you know, i think that our listeners will know, that is not going to happen, but what we can do, what the government should do, and what i want to do, is to get on with changing, reforming and improving our systems and our economy. fascinating from him. if you listen to the way he phrases t

as dawn broke, the conservative party chairman decided to quit. 0liver dowden's letter to his leaderappointed by recent events and i share their feelings. we cannot carry on with business as usual. somebody must take responsibility." and, for the first time, former conservative leader michael howard is calling on borisjohnson to do just that. i think the country needs new leadership, and i think the time has now come to provide it. his biggest asset has always been his ability to win votes. but i'm afraid yesterday's results make it clear that he no longer has that ability. the prime minister, though, is more than 6,000 miles away in rwanda, at a commonwealth get—together, and says it would be crazy for him to resign. when people are finding it tough, they send messages to politicians. and politicians have got to respond. but would he take personal responsibility for the results? people will, you know, continue to beat me up and say this or that about... and to attack me. and that's fine, that's quite right. that is the job of politicians. in the end, voters, journalists, they have n

certainly, the 0liver dowden resignation did has made this a wider conversation and, yet again, throughith boris johnson�*s formance as leader and that controversy over party gate but there are some who i think would like borisjohnson to lead them into the next election. who? there are some who are saying that he can pull this around but needs to change. but the question is, is he capable of that change and does he want to? and that was the question he was asked this morning on the today programme. iam not i am not hearing you say, i have heard what the voters have said and i am going to change? what heard what the voters have said and i am going to change?— i am going to change? what we're auoin to i am going to change? what we're going to change. _ i am going to change? what we're going to change, if _ i am going to change? what we're going to change, if you _ i am going to change? what we're going to change, if you want - i am going to change? what we're going to change, if you want me, | going to change, if you want me, sorry, letsjust be going to change, if you want me, sorry, lets

your successor as conservative party chair, 0liver dowden, resigned recently after the party lost twos as usual — "somebody must take responsibility. "i've concluded it would not be right "for me to remain in office." there are others, like former tory, conservative party leader michael howard, saying members of the cabinet "should carefully consider their positions." yeah, i think michael howard is absolutely right. that's what i said, that he and william hague had both... had both made much the same point. do you want cabinet members to move against borisjohnson? what i would like them to do is to stop parroting on the today programme or world at one or whatever, ridiculous arguments about the distinction between a party and a gathering, and whatever is the number 10 line. i mean, ijust think it's demeaning for them to go on doing that, and then they should, every cabinet minister... and this is because of what we understand happened in number 10. yeah. throughout the pandemic, when rules were broken. i mean, cabinet ministers, of course, want to pursue their own careers, but they s

as dawn broke, the conservative party chairman decided to quit. 0liver dowden's letter to his leaderr michael howard is calling on borisjohnson to just that. i think the country needs new leadership and i think the time has now come to provide it. his biggest asset has always been his ability to win votes. but i'm afraid yesterday's results make it clear that he no longer has that ability. the prime minister, though, is more than 6,000 miles in rwanda, at a commonwealth get—together, and says it would be "crazy" for him to resign. when people are finding it tough, they send messages to politicians, and politicians have got to respond. but would he take personal responsibility for the results? people will, you know, continue to beat me up, and say this or that about, you know — to attack me, that's fine, that's quite right. that is the job of politicians. in the end, voters, journalists — they have no—one else to make their complaints to. i have to — i have to take that. but i also have to get on with the job of delivering for the people of this country. the conservatives have now bee

this man was the conservative co—chairman until this morning, but 0liver dowden tweeted his resignationed and disappointed by recent events, and i share their feelings. we cannot carry on with business as usual. somebody must take responsibility". these are a really problematic set of results for the conservatives because they show the party losing support in different parts of the country, in the north of england, in wakefield, and here in the south, in tiverton and honiton, in what should be safe tory territory. and many conservative mps will be looking at their majorities this morning nervously and asking themselves, not for the first time, is boris johnson still the best person to lead them into the next general election? well, we could march on downing street, what do you think? cheering a big result for the liberal democrats but it also raises big questions about the prime minister�*s future. nick eardley, bbc news, tiverton. as we�*ve heard, it was a double defeat for the conservatives last night, they also lost the wakefield by—election in west yorkshire to labour. the tories ha