BORIS Johnson has insisted he will survive Tory resignation demands over lockdown breaches in Number 10 as a ministerial aide quit over the “toxic culture” he presided over.
The Prime Minister batted away partygate questions on Friday by saying he has already given “vintage and exhaustive answers” in parliament and during a press conference.
But his proclamation comes as Tory MP Paul Holmes resigned as an assistant to Home Secretary Priti Patel, stating that he was “shocked and angered” by the revelations in the Sue Gray report.
We told how the Gray report details a boozy culture which saw staff vomiting, fighting, spilling red wine on the walls and being rude to cleaning and custodial staff in Downing Street.
But just two days after the revelations and as four Tory MPs went public to call for his resignation, Johnson was digging his heels in yet again.
During a visit to Stockon-on-Tees, Johnson was adamant he had enough support within his party.
Asked by broadcasters if he was confident Tory MPs will continue to back him, the PM said: “Yes, but I think I gave some pretty vintage and exhaustive answers on all that subject the other day in the House of Commons and then in a subsequent press conference.”
Johnson sought to further deflect questions when pressed on why he tolerated the culture that saw staff drink so much they were sick, became involved in altercations and abused security and cleaning staff.
He added: “If you look at the answers in the House of Commons over more than two hours, I think you’ll be able to see I answered that very, very extensively.”
But it comes as Holmes resigned as a parliamentary private secretary, blasting the “deep mistrust” created by the breaking of Covid rules.
Writing on his website, he said that the scandal was undermining his work for constituents in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
He said: “It is distressing to me that this work on your behalf has been tarnished by the toxic culture that seemed to have permeated Number 10.”
He stopped short of calling for the Prime Minister’s resignation, and a colleague who answered the phone at his constituency office said the MP had nothing further to add.
But the resignation marks another blow after four Tories went public with resignation demands since the damning report laid bare the parties in No 10 at a time when millions were forced to cut off contact with loved ones.
Former minister Stephen Hammond said he “cannot and will not defend the indefensible” and indicated he had sent a letter of no confidence to the Tory backbench 1922 Committee.
David Simmonds and John Baron spoke out on Thursday, following Julian Sturdy, who demanded Mr Johnson’s exit in the hours after Ms Gray’s report was published on Wednesday.
A vote on the Prime Minister’s future will be held if 54 of his MPs write to 1922 chairman Sir Graham Brady saying they have lost their confidence in their leader.
Twenty Tories have publicly called for his resignation so far, with many critics holding back due to the war in Ukraine.
Others may have called for a no confidence vote in private, however, as Brady keeps the public declarations of discontent a closely-guarded secret.
