Prime Minister Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street
(Picture: PA Archive)A minister said on Thursday that now was not the time for a “noisy leadership contest” in the Conservative Party as Boris Johnson faced the prospect of more partygate fines and a potential parliamentary investigation into whether he misled MPs.
Wales Secretary Simon Hart said that while misjudgments had been made, Mr Johnson’s fine for breaking Covid-19 rules by attending a surprise birthday party in Downing Street in June 2020 should not spark his automatic resignation.
“I don’t think on balance that it is in the national interest, or the international interest, or Ukraine’s interest to have a noisy leadership contest while we are trying to lead the international response to Ukraine,” he told Sky News.
Although Mr Johnson appears to have averted an immediate vote of confidence in his leadership from Tory MPs, the Prime Minister is reportedly facing three more fines for attending illegal parties.
Last night the Conservative peer David Wolfson stepped up the pressure as he resigned as a justice minister saying he had “no option” other than to quit over the “repeated rule-breaking and breach of the criminal law, in Downing Street”.
It is believed Mr Johnson may have attended as many as six of the 12 lockdown-busting gatherings being investigated by the Metropolitan Police, including a “bring your own booze” gathering in the garden of Downing Street in May 2020 and a leaving party for former aide Lee Cain in November of that year.
Speaker of the Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was said to be prepared to grant a debate on the Prime Minister’s conduct when MPs return from the Easter recess next week.
Mr Johnson is also facing a vote on whether he misled the House when he repeatedly insisted all rules were followed.
