Commenting on news that Alister Jack has been nominated for a peerage, South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “Given how utterly discredited this Tory Government is, I get why Alister Jack is seeking to abandon ship.

“At least we now know what the real reason was for Mr Jack’s cringing support for Boris Johnson because it certainly wasn’t based on merit.

“But if Mr Jack has decided to walk out on the people of Dumfries and Galloway after such a short time, then he should do the decent thing and go now.

“At a time local families are struggling, the last thing we need is a part-time MP with one eye on the exit door. It says a lot about the Tory’s lack of confidence in their Government’s shameful record that their MPs appear to be seeking to defer going to the Lords when their party should face the people and let them decide, not just in by elections, but in a General Election so we can get the change this country so badly needs.”