Boris Johnson faces a nightmare vote by MPs on Thursday on whether to probe claims he misled Parliament over No10 lockdown parties.
He today had the opportunity to finally admit he breached Covid rules during lockdown when he addressed Parliament as the first sitting PM to be caught law-breaking.
But the shameless Tory once again trotted out the excuse that he had no idea he was dodging the rules by being at No10 parties while the rest of the nation strictly obeyed lockdown.
Grieving relatives joined the call for Tory MPs to stand up to the shame being brought on their party and the country by the PM when they vote.
If found guilty, he could even be suspended from the Commons.
Keir Starmer branded Mr Johnson dishonest in a scathing attack and one of his own party called on him to quit after he gave his first address since being fined by police.
MPs groaned as the PM offered a feeble apology, repeated 89 times, before launching into reasons why he should remain in No10, again using the Ukraine war and cost of living crisis as deflection for his own failings.
The PM repeated his line that “it did not occur to me then, or subsequently” that he may have broken the law with his No10 birthday bash in June 2020, while restrictions were in place.
Mr Starmer was the first to respond to his Commons address.
The Labour leader accused Mr Johnson of delivering a “mealy-mouthed apology” along with “deflections and distortions”.
Branding his speech a “joke,” he added: “But the damage is already done. The public have made up their minds. They don’t believe a word the Prime Minister says.
“They know what he is. As ever with this Prime Minister, those close to him find themselves ruined. And the institutions he vows to protect damaged. It’s what he does, it’s who he is. He’s dishonest and incapable of changing.”
Former chief whip Mark Harper became the latest to call for Mr Johnson to quit and submit his letter of no confidence to trigger a leadership contest. He said: “I’m very sorry to have to say this, but I no longer think he is worthy of the great office that he holds.”
And in a brutal letter to the 1922 committee, Mr Harper said “integrity is about doing the right thing even when no one is looking”.
Just over a dozen Tories are calling on the PM to resign but No10 fears that number could surge amid anger over more fines.
Mr Johnson’s bid to refocus attention away from his law-breaking and on to the Ukraine crisis sparked fury among those who lost loved ones in the pandemic. Safiah Ngah, whose father Zahari, 68, died last year, said: “The apology from the Prime Minister was the words of someone who is sorry they’ve been caught, not someone who regrets the harm they’ve done.
“His claim that he didn’t realise rules were being broken is just laughable and shows he still takes us for idiots. Backbench Tory MPs might want us to move on from Partygate, but first they’ll need to move Johnson on from his office.”
Mr Johnson on Wednesday night flies to India for talks after he faces further scrutiny at PMQs during the day.
Thursday's vote will be on whether Mr Johnson misled Parliament by repeatedly claiming all guidance had been followed at the time of the string of No10 parties.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle today confirmed the Commons will decide whether to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee to establish if the PM broke the rules.
It has the power to summon reports and documents, meaning MPs could request to see the full Sue Gray report into lockdown gatherings at the heart of government. They can ask to see the 300 photographs she handed over to Scotland Yard as evidence.
Mr Johnson could be found in contempt of Parliament – as was War Secretary John Profumo after he lied about an affair in 1963. He later quit.
The PM met all Tory MPs tonight for a “clear the air” discussion designed to shore up support among jittery backbenchers worried about losing seats.
The PM’s staunch ally Jacob Rees-Mogg had an extraordinary clash over Partygate with radio host Andrew Marr today. The LBC presenter responded to the Brexit opportunities minister’s claim that Partygate was “fluff” compared to what is going on in Ukraine.
During his Tonight show, Mr Marr said he could only have a small family gathering for his dad’s funeral during lockdown while No10 partied.
But Mr Rees-Mogg said: “What is happening now two years on against what’s going on in Ukraine, what is going on with the cost of living crisis, one has to get a sense of perspective.”
Scotland Yard has already issued 50 fixed penalty notices over Partygate with more expected to follow.
The PM, wife Carrie, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were all fined last week for attending the birthday bash in the Cabinet room.
