nother Tory MP has referred to as on Boris Johnson to resign amid stories the Prime Minister was pictured holding a beer in {a photograph} from his alleged restriction-busting gathering which has been handed to the police.
Former minister Nick Gibb stated the time had come for the Prime Minister to go, and prompt he had not been truthful in his explanations of events reportedly held in No 10 and throughout Whitehall throughout Covid measures.
Mr Gibb, who’s reported to have submitted a no-confidence letter to Sir Graham Brady, brings the variety of Tory MPs who’ve now publicly referred to as for Mr Johnson to resign to fifteen.
Privately, the quantity is predicted to be greater.
Writing in The Telegraph, the MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton stated that the Conservative Occasion should face the “laborious truths”, and added: “To revive belief, we have to change the Prime Minister.”
It comes as The Mirror reported that the Metropolitan Police had been handed {a photograph} of Mr Johnson holding a beer at an alleged gathering in June 2020 to mark the Prime Minister’s birthday.
The newspaper stated it was one of many 300 images handed to the Met of their investigation into 12 alleged gatherings which will have damaged Covid restrictions.
The photograph is reported to have additionally included Chancellor Rishi Sunak holding a smooth drink.
No 10 stated it couldn’t remark whereas the Met Police’s investigation was ongoing.
The Treasury was contacted for remark however Mr Sunak has beforehand stated he was within the room for a Covid assembly.
On Friday, the beleaguered Prime Minister sought to rally Downing Avenue workers with a line from The Lion King, telling them “Change is sweet” after the departure of numerous aides.
He was hit with a fifth resignation in lower than 24 hours when Elena Narozanski, a particular adviser within the No 10 coverage unit, walked out on Friday.
Well being Secretary Sajid Javid made clear he disagreed with Mr Johnson’s assault on Sir Keir Starmer when he accused the Labour chief of failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions.
Backbencher Aaron Bell additionally declared publicly he had submitted a letter calling for a vote of no confidence in his chief.
In a press release, he stated: “The breach of belief that occasions in No 10 Downing Avenue characterize, and the style during which they’ve been dealt with, makes his place untenable.”
In an emotional query within the Commons on Monday following the publication of the Sue Grey report into lockdown events, Mr Bell requested Mr Johnson if he thought he was a “idiot” for following Covid restrictions at his grandmother’s funeral.
In his intervention, Mr Gibb stated Mr Bell had been “courageous” and “struck a chord”.
He wrote: “He expressed the anger and frustration of tens of millions at rule-breaking by these most accountable for making the principles.
“He was not a idiot for sticking by these guidelines. However, whether or not inadvertently or not, behaviour by individuals on the coronary heart of presidency means that they suppose he was – or worse nonetheless, that the principles don’t apply to them.”
He stated his constituents have been “livid concerning the double requirements”.
Mr Gibb stated: “The Prime Minister accepted the resignation of Allegra Stratton for joking a few Christmas get together that she hadn’t attended, however he gained’t take duty for people who he did attend.
“I’m sorry to say that it’s laborious to see how it may be the case that the Prime Minister informed the reality.”
Different Tory MPs are anticipated to contemplate over the weekend whether or not to jot down to the chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham in an try to drive a management contest.
In an obvious transfer to go off additional dissent, Mr Johnson has written to Tory MPs promising them a larger position in policymaking with a “direct line” into No 10.
The newest turmoil was triggered by the shock resignation on Thursday of Mr Johnson’s long-standing coverage chief Munira Mirza over his refusal to withdraw his “scurrilous” accusation about Sir Keir.
Talking on Friday, Mr Javid indicated that he agreed with Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who stated he wouldn’t have made these remarks.
“Keir Starmer, when he was operating the DPP, did a great job and he needs to be revered for it. It’s a robust job and he deserved absolute respect for that,” he informed reporters.
Mr Javid acknowledged Mr Johnson had subsequently “clarified” his feedback and insisted the Prime Minister nonetheless had his full help.
Nevertheless, his intervention will solely gasoline hypothesis over how a lot help the Prime Minister actually enjoys from members of his prime crew.
Ms Mirza’s resignation was adopted by the announcement that three extra of probably the most senior figures in No 10 – chief of workers Dan Rosenfield, principal personal secretary Martin Reynolds and director of communications Jack Doyle – have been additionally leaving.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson stated the departures had all been agreed earlier than Ms Mirza tendered her resignation and that they have been leaving by mutual consent.
All three have been to some extent implicated within the controversy over events throughout lockdown.
Mr Reynolds organised the infamous “convey your individual booze” occasion within the Downing Avenue backyard whereas Mr Doyle was reportedly at at the very least one of many gatherings now beneath investigation by the police.
Whereas Mr Rosenfield didn’t be a part of till after a lot of the occasions had taken place, he has been criticised over the Authorities’s preliminary response to the report that there had been no breach of the principles.
