Boris Johnson's senior ministers have been urged to quit after another sleaze scandal engulfed Downing Street.
In a blistering Commons attack, Hazel Grove MP William Wragg said the Government had "lost its sense of direction" as Number 10 was accused of trying to "cover up" the "inappropriate behaviour" of deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.
Mr Pincher, the MP for Tamworth, was suspended as a Conservative Party MP last week over allegations he groped two men at a private members' club in London.
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For days ministers insisted Mr Johnson was not aware of specific allegations against Mr Pincher when he was appointed deputy chief whip - whose job it is to uphold discipline among fellow Tory MPs.
But this morning Lord McDonald of Salford, the ex-permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, said that was “not true”.
Lord McDonald said that in the summer of 2019, shortly after Mr Pincher was made Europe minister, a complaint by a group of officials about his conduct was investigated and upheld, and the Prime Minister informed of the outcome.
Mr Wragg, speaking in the Commons, said in the wake of latest scandal ministers needed to consider their positions.
He said: "I would suggest for ministers to consider what they're being asked to say in public, which changes seemingly by the hour and I would ask them to consider the common sense and decency that I know the vast majority of them have and ask themselves if they can any longer tolerate being part of a Government which for better or worse, is widely regarded as having lost its sense of direction.
"It is for them to consider their positions."
Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis, responding, said Mr Wragg was "wrong", adding: "The fact of the matter is, this is a Government that knows its direction and that is to serve the British people in dealing with the issues that matter to them."
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner earlier said the “latest disturbing allegations about ministerial misconduct are all about abuse of power”, adding: “The minister spoke about personal responsibility – well, the minister needs to remind the Prime Minister of his personal responsibility.”
"The Prime Minister was personally informed about these allegations and yet he was either negligent or complicit.”
The Labour MP went on: “When will this minister stop defending the indefensible and say enough is enough?
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