Tory MP Paul Holmes has resigned as an aide to Home Secretary Priti Patel, saying the Sue Gray report into Partygate has exposed a “deep mistrust” in government.
It is the first resignation since the publication of the civil servant’s final report into Covid rule-breaking parties in Downing Street.
The Eastleigh MP said a “toxic culture [seems] to have permeated Number 10”.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak said his £1bn emergency cost of living package would have a “minimal” impact on inflation which will be “much less” than 1 per cent.
The chancellor argued that was the case because the help was “very targeted” at those who needed it most while money is being raised to pay for the measures.
Mr Sunak said second homes receiving a second £400 energy bill grant would only account for a small proportion of payments.
Elsewhere, Boris Johnson described yesterday’s multi-billion pound package as a “big bazooka”.
But he added that he was “not going to pretend this is going to fix everything for everybody immediately”.
