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UK’s Johnson says takes ‘personal responsibility’ for by-election loss

Boris Johnson has spoken out for the first time since the Tories’ North Shropshire by-election loss.

The crushing defeat saw the Liberal Democrats overturn a massive Conservative majority in the seat – which has never been anything but Tory.

Mr Johnson said: ‘I’m responsible for everything that the Government does and of course I take personal responsibility.’

But he blamed a ‘constant litany of stuff about politics and politicians’ in the media for the result.

He said: ‘I think that people are frustrated and I understand that.’

He added: ‘Some things have been going very well, but what the people have been hearing… is just a constant litany of stuff about politics and politicians and stuff that isn’t about them and isn’t about the things that we can do to make life better.’

PM ‘accepts the verdict’ from voters as Tories lose by-election
Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates in Oswestry, Shropshire, following her victory in the North Shropshire by-electiom. Picture date: Friday December 17, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS NorthShropshire. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan bursts the ‘Boris bubble’ (Picture: PA)

The PM is facing questions over his leadership after the shock defeat. Former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson told the BBC the prime minister was drinking in the ‘last-chance saloon’.

She said the party was looking for ‘a bit of bloody grip’ from its leader.

‘I think the prime minister’s been put on warning by his MPs,’ she said.

The result sent tremors through Westminster after weeks of damaging headlines about Tory ‘sleaze’ and reports of partying in No 10 in breach of Covid restrictions last year.

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