Boris Johnson’s future is hanging in the balance as Cabinet ministers pleaded with Tory MPs to wait for the findings of an official investigation into Downing Street parties before calling for him to quit.
The Prime Minister apologised for attending a “bring your own booze” party in the Downing Street garden in May 2020, during the first coronavirus lockdown, but insisted he believed it was a work event and could “technically” have been within the rules.
Mr Johnson’s confirmation that he was at the event led to five Tory MPs publicly calling for him to quit, with more privately voicing concerns about his leadership.
The Prime Minister apologised for attending a “bring your own booze” party in the Downing Street garden in May 2020, during the first coronavirus lockdown
UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor
Whilst there remains some strong allies around him, with the likes of Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Dominic Raab all voicing their support for Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister’s list of Tory rebels has grown.
Below is a full list of Tories who have urged the Prime Minister to stand down.
- Douglas Ross, Leader of the Scottish Tories
- Ruth Davidson, former leader of the Scottish Tories, currently sitting in the House of Lords
- William Wragg - MP, vice chairman of the 1922 Committee
- Sir Roger Gale - MP for North Thanet
- Julian Sturdy – MP for York Outer
- Caroline Nokes - MP for Romsey and Southampton North
- Andrew Bridgen - MP for North West Leicestershire
- Miles Briggs - MSP
- Alexander Burnett - MSP
- Donald Cameron - MSP
- Jackson Carlaw - MSP
- Russell Findlay - MSP
- Maurice Golden - MSP
- Meghan Gallacher - MSP
- Jamie Halcro Johnston - MSP
- Craig Hoy - MSP
- Liam Kerr - MSP
- Stephen Kerr - MSP
- Murdo Fraser - MSP
- Douglas Lumsden - MSP
- Liz Smith - MSP
- Sue Webber - MSP
- Annie Wells - MSP
- Brian Whittle - MSP
- Edward Mountain – MSP
- Sharon Dowey - MSP
- Finlay Carson – MSP
Conservative voters have also voiced their concerns. Many have said they will not vote for the party if Boris Johnson stays in charge, with one Twitter user saying the Prime Minister is “finished”.
John Coleman, 47, an English teacher from Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, said he may vote Labour in the next election as a result.
Posting on Twitter, he said: “I speak as a Conservative voter and former party member… this government needs to fall and it needs to fall now!! Amoral leadership #JohnsonOutNow.”
He later added: “At the moment it is highly unlikely I will vote Conservative next time round. There are too many sycophants and lightweights in Cabinet and an amoral clown at the top.
“He is finished. He is either incompetent or lying. He needs to resign.”
Mary Gater, a lifelong Tory voter whose father’s funeral in February 2021 had limited attendance due to Covid restrictions, said she will seriously consider voting differently in a future election if the Prime Minister is still in charge.
“He has acknowledged he did wrong, but it is difficult to reconcile his responses because the damage is now done,” the 58-year-old self-employed designer from Malpas, in Cheshire, said.
“I doubt he does understand the sacrifices and quite frankly the horrors some of us have endured.
“I could be very bitter I am not at all… I am merely tired of the lies and complete lack of empathy.”
Nick Peterson, a 33-year-old architect from London, said that he believes the Prime Minister thinks that despite widespread outrage, he will not face any serious repercussions.
Mr Peterson said: “I think he knows the inquiry will not be disastrous. That he’ll be able to ride it out and survive regardless of the damage the story has done to the reputation of the Government.”
Mr Peterson also said that he would rather abstain than vote for the current Conservative Government in the next election.