Tory MPs have been urged to break their silence over Boris Johnson's Covid fines as the Prime Minister's future hangs in the balance.
Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson called on her Westminster colleagues to "step up and not stay silent" over the fate of his leadership.
The senior Conservative peer has accused the PM of "making a mockery" of the British people's sacrifices during the pandemic.
She was one of the first Tories to call for his resignation when the scandal first broke - and has stood by her position that he should quit.
Baroness Davidson told the Mirror: "If MP colleagues still believe that basic standards of decency and honesty matter in public life, they have to step up and not stay silent".
The vast majority of Tory backbenchers have not publicly commented since the PM, wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were fined for breaking Covid laws.
Some said privately they are "sitting on their hands" while they wait to see what comes next - with the PM facing the prospect of more fines.
Detectives are investigating at least six Downing Street parties the PM attended, including one in his own flat.
Jittery Tory MPs fear that a drip, drip of criminal sanctions for Mr Johnson in the run up the local elections could damage the party's chances.
They are also concerned that the Sue Gray report, the summary of which was damning for the PM, could stir up public anger further.
Yet several Tories have claimed the Ukraine crisis means now is not the right time to change leader - even though other PMs have been replaced when Britain was actually at war.
Three of those who had previously submitted letters of no confidence - Sir Roger Gale, Andrew Bridgen and Douglas Ross - used the excuse.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who had said it would be "tough" for Mr Johnson to remain in office if he broke the law, said: "We are all angry, but the PM must stay".
But on a campaign visit, Baroness Davidson said: “I believe that the office of the PM is traduced when you’ve got somebody that breaks the laws that they himself have brought in.
"I completely understand that there are really big geopolitics happening right now. There are big international issues.
"But I still believe that when it comes to supporting a country fighting for freedom and democracy, you have to uphold your own rules. You have to.”
Tory Nigel Mills became the first MP to break ranks yesterday and suggest the PM should resign over his Partygate fine.
The Amber Valley MP said people were “rightly angry” that the PM did not have the “decency or sense” to follow his own Covid rules while they did.
Former minister Caroline Nokes emailed a constituent: “I have already been very clear that I believe the PM’s conduct fell far short of what my constituents have every right to expect.
"I do not need to write a letter of no confidence to the chair of the 1922 Committee, mine was in a very long time ago.”
Some Tory MPs suggested at the height of the Partygate scandal that the PM would have to go if he was found to have broken the law.
Up to 30 MPs were at one point thought to have submitted letters of no confidence, with 54 needed to trigger a leadership challenge.
