Even if the Tories want Boris Johnson to go, no one is willing to give him a push

‘For all the anger, it’s still unclear how Boris Johnson would actually go.’ Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters

When the former Downing Street pollster James Johnson ran a focus group on “partygate” in the red wall seat of Bolton North East, the feedback wasn’t exactly encouraging for No 10.

Some of the disparaging comments from those voters who backed the Tories for the first time in 2019 included: “I think he’s completely lost everyone’s trust”, “he needs to resign” and “I don’t really see how he can carry on”. When people were asked whether they would vote for Boris Johnson now, not a single person put their hand up.