Tory MPs abandoned Boris Johnson as he faced questions in the Commons over Whitehall enforcer Sue Gray's report on Partygate.
The Prime Minister claimed to be "humbled" by the findings of the report, which said the "senior leadership” in the Government must “bear responsibility” for the culture of rule-breaking at Downing Street during the pandemic.
But scores of Conservative backbenchers deserted the Prime Minister when he shifted tone, branding Keir Starmer "Sir Beer Korma" over the 'Beergate' row and accusing his opponents of being "obsessed" with the scandal.
The shaming report also revealed that cleaners and security staff, who witnessed staff taking part in the infamous Christmas booze-up, were treated with "a lack of respect" on "multiple" occasions.
The embattled Prime Minister could be facing a fresh rebellion among his own ranks, as he prepares to speak at the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories this afternoon.
Some Tories hit out at the PM in the Chamber, however.
Basildon and Billericay Conservative MP, John Baron, fumed at Mr Johnson's failure to be straight with MPs about the extent of parties.
He said: “The British army teaches you, or certainly believes at its very core, that you serve to lead and you lead by example.
“Given the extent of rule-breaking in Number 10, does he believe that what he has said to the House since about their being no rule-breaking passed the test of reasonableness?”
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, who has already called for the PM to resign, called for his fellow Tories to act against the PM.
He said: “This is a damning report about the absence of leadership, focus and discipline in No 10 – the one place where you expect to find those attributes in abundance.
“I’ve made my point and my position very clear to the Prime Minister: he does not have my support.
“But a question I humbly put to my colleagues is ‘are you willing day in and day out to defend this behaviour publicly?'”
Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland also took the PM to task over misleading MPs, saying "the rules of this House are clear that anybody who comes here and deliberately lies and misleads this House should leave their position, resign or apologise".
Ex-Brexit Minister David Davis told GB News that if Boris Johnson doesn't quit then the Conservatives will be facing "death of a thousand cuts" and "the blame will spread to other Cabinet Ministers, then it will spread to the rest of Government, then it will spread to the rest of the party".
The MP said he did not regret previously calling for the PM to quit, telling the broadcaster: “Well, so far, every single one of my predictions has been right.”
He added: “It’s quite plain that no ordinary person, I mean, outside Boris’ circle – of course they’re cross with me, they’d be wrong not to be – but on the doorstep, on the train, in the streets, in the tearoom, everywhere, people say, ‘actually, you were right’.”
