More Tory MPs withdraw support from Boris Johnson over ‘shameful’ No 10 parties

Total of 21 Conservative MPs publicly calling for PM to go, with others pushing privately for his removal

Four more Conservative MPs have withdrawn support from Boris Johnson in the wake of the Sue Gray report, with one saying his claim not to have misled parliament over No 10 parties was “simply not credible”.

John Baron, David Simmonds and Angela Richardson brought the number of MPs speaking out against Johnson following Wednesday’s report to five, after York Outer MP Julian Sturdy said yesterday he should go. A total of 22 Conservative backbenchers are now publicly demanding his removal, but behind the scenes others have privately said he should step down.

Basildon and Billericay MP Mr Baron said that the Gray report and the Metropolitan Police inquiry into lockdown-busting gatherings in Downing Street “paint a shameful pattern of misbehaviour during the pandemic as the rest of us kept to the Covid regulations”.

Mr Baron said that the most serious charge against the PM was that he knowingly misled parliament when he insisted in December that no parties took place and social distancing rules were kept at all times.

Mr Johnson yesterday told the House of Commons that he briefly attended a number of events to give farewell speeches to thank departing staff , but did not know that they later developed into drunken parties.

But Mr Baron said: “Given the scale of rule-breaking in No 10, I can not accept that the Prime Minister was unaware. Therefore, his repeated assurances in Parliament that there was no rule-breaking is simply not credible.”

Meanwhile, Mr Simmonds, whose north London seat of Ruislip, Northwood & Pinner neighbours Mr Johnson’s constituency, said: “It is clear that while the government and our policies enjoy the confidence of the public, the prime minister does not.

“Accordingly, it is time for him to step down so that new leadership can take forward the important work of the government in ensuring that our people and country prosper.”

Later, Stephen Hammond, a former health minister and the MP in highly-marginal Wimbledon, revealed he has called for a no-confidence vote, saying he “cannot and will not defend the indefensible”.

“All I can do as a backbencher is speak out and submit a letter," he said, adding: “I have said for several months I already have done all I can as a backbencher.”

In a post on Facebook, Guildford MP Angela Richardson said: “I am clear that had this been a report about my leadership, I would resign.”

Ms Richardson said she feared that Mr Johnson’s apology in the Commons on Wednesday was “too little, too late”.

And she added: “Trust has been broken and it saddens me that the culture in No 10 and the length of time the enquiry has taken has eroded trust in your political representatives. It reflects badly on all of us.

“Sue Gray reflects many people’s view when she says: ‘The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility.’ I am clear that had this been a report about my leadership, I would resign.”