Delusional Boris Johnson will stay and fight another confidence vote - and thinks he’d win, the Prime Minister’s team declared today.
Mr Johnson’s Press Secretary confirmed he will challenge any bid to oust him for a second time - despite three Conservatives telling him to his face to go at PMQs.
In a wounding 23-minute briefing to the media, she was forced to deny being personally embarrassed at speaking for the PM.
And journalists made noises of disbelief as she insisted the “Cabinet are united”, the day after its Health Secretary and Chancellor resigned.
Asked if the Conservative Party was “falling apart” as more than 15 members of the government resigned, she replied: “No.”
While she was speaking, the eighth minister since last night - Stuart Andrew - resigned. It leaves the Tories seeking their 12th housing minister in 12 years.
He said: “There comes a time when you have to look at your own personal integrity and that time is now”.
Asked if Boris Johnson thought he was the problem behind the slew of resignations, the Press Secretary replied: “I don’t have anything more to add.”
The slew of resignations was prompted by Boris Johnson admitting he knew of an upheld complaint against the Tory MP Chris Pincher, promoted him, then “forgot” about it.
No10 insisted the PM was confident he had the support of back benchers, even as more called for him to quit, and said he was confident he could fill the vacancies left in his government.
But aides said it was “hypothetical” to ask what will happen if the vacancies can’t be filled. “There will be appointments over the coming days,” they added.
The Press Secretary refused to deny the PM called Mr Pincher “Pincher by nature”, and refused to say if the MP has had his Tory membership - not just the Tory whip - suspended.
The briefing came minutes after a Tory MP today earned applause from his rivals by telling the PM 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.
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.”
Boris 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.
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!”
The PM’s Press Secretary insisted he had not covered up predatory behaviour and had no plans for a snap election.
Asked is he cared more about himself or the country, Boris Johnson’s spokeswoman replied: “The country”.
Asked if she herself had considered resigning, the Press Secretary replied: “No.”
