A Tory MP today earned applause from his rivals as he blasted Boris Johnson and told him to resign.
Backbencher Gary Sambrook accused the Prime Minister of “insulting” two men who were reportedly groped by his former colleague Chris Pincher in a members’ club last week.
And he said Mr Johnson “always tries to blame other people for mistakes and there is nothing left for him to do other than take responsibility and resign.”
Mr Sambrook entered Parliament in 2019 and is a member of the backbench 1922 Committee - which could try to change the rules and allow another no-confidence vote as soon as today.
Follow the latest updates today in our live blog
He blasted Mr Johnson, saying: “Yesterday, in an attempt to boost morale in the tearoom, the Prime Minister said at a table that there were seven people, MPs in the Carlton Club last week, that one of them should have tried to intervene to stop Chris [Pincher] from drinking so much.
“As if that wasn’t insulting enough to the people who did try to intervene that night, and also to the victims, that drink was the problem.”
He added: “The Prime Minister constantly tries to deflect from the issue, always tries to blame other people for mistakes and there is nothing left for him to do other than take responsibility and resign.”
Opposition MPs applauded but were stopped by the Commons Speaker who told them: “You ought to be embarrassed by clapping.”
Mr Johnson was told again to step down by Tory veteran David Davis but told him “I disagree with him more”.
He swiped after Mr Sambrook’s question: “There’s a very simple reason why they want me out - and that’s because they know otherwise we’re going to get on and deliver our mandate and win another general election!”
And he even boasted about his “colossal mandate” and vowed to “keep going” despite a Tory MP telling him to his face to resign.
In a blunt clash, Tory rebel Tim Loughton told him: "Does the Prime Minister think there are any circumstances in which he should resign?"
The PM replied: “Clearly, If there were circumstances in which I felt it was impossible for the government to go on and discharge the mandate we’ve been given, or if I felt for instance we were being frustrated in our desire to support the Ukrainian people, or over some major point, then I would.
“But frankly the job of a Prime Minister in difficult circumstances, when he’s been handed a colossal mandate, is to keep going.
“And that’s what I’m going to do!”
