A billionaire Tory donor has declared Boris Johnson has “passed the point of no return” and suspend his support of the party.
In the latest blow to the Prime Minister financier John Armitage, who has given more than £3 million to the Tories, said he believed time is up for Johnson in Downing Street.
He told the BBC: “Politicians should go into politics to do good for their country.
“That is the overwhelming reason to be in politics. I don’t think it’s about your own personal sense of getting to the top of a snakes-and-ladders game.”
Ahead of what could be a stormy Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, he told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg: “I find the lack of honour inherent in modern politics incredibly distressing.
“I feel that if you lose moral authority and if you do things which the average person - your mother, someone who you admire - if you do something or say something which on the front page of The Sunday Times looks terrible and you do that consistently and you betray a sense of not really caring, I think you should leave.”
The hedge fund boss remains a Conservative Party member but donated £12,500 to Labour in 2021.
A No10 source later said that Armitage was “behind the times” and the PM was making the changes needed to deliver what he promised the people at last election.
Johnson faces the Commons at midday on Wednesday having reshuffled his Ministerial team by promoting loyal Brexiteers in an attempt to stave of a vote of no confidence and persuade Tory MPs that he has reset his government after the partygate scandals.
The Prime Minister has made it clear he will deliver no apology for his Jimmy Savile smear against Keir Starmer despite the Labour leader being mobbed by protesters on Monday.
Tory Health minister Ed Argar indicated Boris Johnson would not apologise for his Savile remarks.
Argar told Sky News: “He’s clarified that he was talking about Sir Keir in the context of his leadership role at the CPS. Just as, quite rightly, Sir Keir holds him to account for his leadership role over the Government."
It comes as The Times reported allies of the Prime Minister had said he would not resign even if the police investigation into alleged lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street results in him being fined.
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