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The Telegraph
The Telegraph
National
Dominic Penna

Full list of Tories who have called for Boris Johnson to resign over partygate and Pincher

Boris Johnson Chris Pincher Hart Chris Skidmore Douglas Ross Jo Gideon John Penrose Sue Gray Angela Richardson Browne

Boris Johnson is facing the biggest threat to his political future to date as more Conservative MPs withdraw support for him in the wake of the Chris Pincher affair.

Anger has been widespread in the Tory Party ever since the first revelations of lockdown breaking parties in Downing Street. A 'birthday party' event in June 2020 saw Mr Johnson fined by police.

Last month, the Prime Minister appeared to secure his short-term political survival as he received 211 votes in a confidence ballot among Tory MPs, with 148 voting against his leadership.

But No 10's response to the revelations about Mr Pincher's alleged conduct have seen more than a dozen frontbenchers quit his Government, while mutiny among backbenchers continues to grow.

Full list of Tory MPs who have called on Mr Johnson to resign: 

During the Chris Pincher affair

Nadhim Zahawi - Chancellor - July 7

In a tweet accompanying a letter, Mr Zahawi said: "Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country. You must do the right thing and go now."

Lord Frost - former Brexit negotiator - July 7

Lord Frost has said that Boris Johnson cannot remain in Downing Street "because the business of government cannot continue".

He tweeted: "The Prime Minister cannot continue because the business of government cannot continue & because it is clear that he is not supported by his party in Parliament.

"I hoped he might have reflected overnight and come to realise that.

"If the PM insists on fighting this out then he will cause serious damage to the party and Government, and destroy his place in history.

"If he insists on waiting until another vote of MPs then the 1922 Exec should meet and facilitate one more quickly than planned."

Urging Cabinet ministers to quit, he said: "He cannot now credibly be a caretaker Prime Minister while a leadership election is taking place. We have a Deputy PM who can straightforwardly fulfil that role and he should."

Paul Holmes - MP for Eastleigh - July 5

Hours after Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak quit their respective roles as health secretary and chancellor, Mr Holmes wrote: "Trust and integrity are important to me and my constituents.

"As I said when I resigned a few weeks ago, we’ve been distracted from delivering for the British people. Recent events have only reinforced this view. It’s clear to me that the PM should resign."

Anthony Browne - MP for South Cambridgeshire - July 5

Despite having publicly supported Mr Johnson throughout his premiership, Mr Browne this week revealed he had submitted one of the letters of no confidence that triggered last month's ballot.

"The latest revelations just confirm me in my view: he has to go," he said. "It is time to restore trust in politics, and competence in Government."

Jo Gideon - MP for Stoke on Trent - July 5

Ms Gideon also revealed she was one of those who wrote a letter to Sir Graham Brady:

Sally Ann-Hart - MP for Hastings and Rye - July 5

Previously a loyal backbencher, Ms Hart suggested the row around Mr Pincher had come as a tipping point.

"Considering the further revelations that have come to light, and given that the integrity of Parliament must be upheld, on behalf of my constituents of Hastings and Rye I am no longer able to support Boris Johnson as Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister."

Robert Halfon - MP for Harlow - July 6

Mr Halfon, the chairman of the Commons education select committee, described himself as a "naturally loyal Conservative" who had never come out against a party leader - "until now":

Chris Skidmore - MP for Kingswood - July 6

The Chris Pincher scandal was also the tipping point for Mr Skidmore, who said it was "vital" the 1922 Committee considered changing its rules to allow another confidence vote:

Lee Anderson - MP for Ashfield - July 6

Via his Facebook page, Mr Anderson said he had remained loyal to Mr Johnson since his election in 2019, writing: "Integrity should always come first and sadly this has not been the case in recent days."

His intervention was all the more remarkable considering he told the Telegraph's Chopper's Politics podcast last week Mr Johnson should learn from Margaret Thatcher and "stop trying to please everybody".

Tom Hunt - MP for Ipswich - July 6

Mr Hunt backed Boris Johnson for the Tory leadership in 2019 and said there was "much he'd got right".

But writing on his Facebook page, he said: "Under the Prime Minister's leadership it is becoming increasingly difficult for both the Government and us as Parliamentarians to focus on these key issues and achieve our full potential in delivering for the British people.

"The great risk as I can see it is that the status quo rumbles on, more division is created in our Party and we end up with a Labour Government propped up by the Lib Dems and the SNP."

Simon Fell - MP for Barrow & Furness - July 6

Mr Fell withdrew his support in this pithy tweet shortly before Prime Minister's Questions:

Kate Griffiths - MP for Burton and Uttoxeter - July 6

On her website, Ms Griffiths said she had been forced to "reassess my position after [the] events of the past couple of weeks".

"As someone who has been the victim of abuse... I am furious that it has now come to light the Prime Minister was aware of the allegations against Chris Pincher."

Gary Sambrook - MP for Birmingham Northfield - July 6

Previously a loyalist, Mr Sambrook used Prime Minister's Questions to call on Boris Johnson to resign.

"Isn’t there nothing left for him to do other than to resign?" he asked the PM.

Alec Shelbrooke - MP for Elmet and Rothwell - July 6

Huw Merriman - MP for Bexhill and Battle - July 6

Robert Jenrick - MP for Newark - July 6

Ben Spencer - July 6

Liam Fox - July 6

Anna Firth - July 6

Craig Tracey - July 6

Sir Oliver Heald - July 6

Sir Robert Syms - July 6

Henry Smith - July 6

Neil Hudson - July 6

Nickie Aiken - July 6

Louie French - July 6

Shaun Bailey - July 6

Bob Seely - July 6

Ben Bradley - July 6

Suella Braverman - July 6

Caroline Dinenage - July 6

On the day of the no-confidence vote

Jeremy Hunt - MP for South West Surrey - June 6

Mr Hunt, a former health secretary, lost to Mr Johnson in the 2019 Conservative leadership election and stopped short of calling for him to resign before the confidence vote was announced.

But on Monday morning, he wrote: "The Conservative Party must now decide if it wishes to change its leader. Because of the situation in Ukraine this was not a debate I wanted to have now but under our rules we must do that.

"Having been trusted with power, Conservative MPs know in our hearts we are not giving the British people the leadership they deserve. We are not offering the integrity, competence and vision necessary to unleash the enormous potential of our country.

"Anyone who believes our country is stronger, fairer & more prosperous when led by Conservatives should reflect that the consequence of not changing will be to hand the country to others who do not share those values. Today’s decision is change or lose. I will be voting for change."

John Penrose - MP for Weston-Super-Mare - June 6

Mr Penrose, who was Mr Johnson's anti-corruption champion, confirmed his resignation live on Sky News on Monday morning.

"I’m sorry to have to resign as the PM’s Anti-Corruption Tsar but, after his reply last week about the Ministerial Code, it’s pretty clear he has broken it," he added on social media.

"That’s a resigning matter for me, and it should be for the PM too."

Angela Richardson - MP for Guildford - June 6

Ms Richardson resigned from a ministerial position over the Government's handling of partygate after the interim Sue Gray report was published at the end of January.

"From the very beginning of the issues surrounding the Prime Minister’s conduct during the lockdown period and his subsequent answers to parliamentary questions, I have been consistent in my views about the standards people expect of those in high office," she wrote on Facebook on June 6.

"Last week, I made a statement following the publication of the full Sue Gray report that questioned whether those standards had been upheld. The deep disappointment I expressed in a previous statement in January has not abated. Given that, I will be voting No Confidence in Boris Johnson this evening."

Mark Pawsey - MP for Rugby & Bulkington - June 6

A member of the 2010 Conservative intake, Mr Pawsey wrote on Twitter: "In this afternoon’s vote I will be unable to give my support to the Prime Minister. The country has reason to be grateful to Boris Johnson for getting Brexit done after a period of uncertainty and for securing a successful vaccine programme in the face of the pandemic.

"However, I waited for the Sue Gray report & was disappointed to read its contents. I have concluded that it is now time for a different kind of leadership and a new team.

"With a General Election only two years away now is the right time for a new leader to bring about the changes we need to restore the country’s confidence in the Government & ensure a Conservative victory in 2024."

Douglas Ross, Leader of the Scottish Tories - June 6

Mr Ross, who has led the Scottish Conservatives since 2020, joined 27 Tory Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) in calling for Boris Johnson's resignation over partygate in February.

"I said if the Prime Minister attended this gathering, event in Downing Street on May 20 2020, he could not continue as Prime Minister so, regretfully, I have to say his position is no longer tenable," he said at the time.

But he withdrew his letter of no confidence after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and invited the PM to the Scottish Tory conference later that month in a boost to the PM.

When images emerged on May 23 showing Mr Johnson raising a toast with a group of colleagues during the second lockdown in November 2020, Mr Ross urged him to explain himself.

"These images will rightly make people across the country very angry," he said. “The Prime Minister must outline why he believes this behaviour was acceptable. To most, these pictures seem unjustifiable and wrong."

And on June 6, he confirmed he would vote no confidence in Mr Johnson:

Sir Robert Syms - MP for Poole - June 6

Sir Robert, the MP for Poole since 1997, was discontent with Mr Johnson over partygate and had said he was "using up his nine lives".

He confirmed hours before confidence vote the PM would not have his support:

Dehenna Davison - MP for Bishop Auckland - June 6

The 2019-intake MP said that after talking to her constituents she decided to vote against the Prime Minister in the secret ballot".

"This is not a decision I took lightly", she said in a post on Facebook.

Laurence Robertson - MP for Tewkesbury - June 6

The senior Tory MP, who chaired the Northern Ireland Select Committee for seven years, said that he voted against Mr Johnson with a "very heavy heart".

He added that it was the time for a "new approach".

Andrew Bowie - MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine - June 6

The Scottish Conservative, who is a former PPS and Vice-Chair of the party, said that his constituents were "understandably angry and upset at what has happened". 

He said that he decided to vote against the Prime Minister for the "good of the country".

John Lamont - MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk - June 6

Another Scottish Tory announced that he was resigning as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary in order to vote against Boris Johnson.

He said that he had received "thousands" of emails from constituents about the Prime Minister's actions over recent weeks and months.

David Mundell - MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale - June 6

The former Secretary of State for Scotland was another Tory north of the border who voted against the Prime Minister.

Mr Mundell, who is also the UK's trade envoy to New Zealand, said that he had voted for a "fresh start and new leadership for our country".

After the full Sue Gray report

Julian Sturdy - MP for York Outer - May 25

Mr Sturdy, who was elected to the Commons in 2010, was the only Conservative MP to withdraw their support for Mr Johnson on May 25, the day Ms Gray's full findings were published.

A member of the Commons Defra committee and a lifelong farmer, he had previously said he felt "appalled and let down" by revelations of rule-breaking at No 10.

He said on Twitter: "Talking to constituents, it is clear discussions about parties in Downing Street remain a damaging distraction at a time when our country faces massive challenges with war returning in Europe, a global cost of living crisis, and our recovery from the pandemic being more important than ever.

"This is clear a time when we cannot have any doubts about the honesty, integrity and personal character of the prime minister."

Angela Richardson - MP for Guildford - May 25

Angela Richardson, who quit as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) over partygate earlier in the year, said she "came into politics to make a difference but once again I find myself in the position of accounting for the behaviour of the leader of the leader of the party and our Government."

She described Mr Johnson correcting the record in Parliament over partygate as "too little too late", adding: "I am clear that had that been a report about my leadership, I would resign."

Steve Brine - MP for Winchester - May 25

Mr Brine, who had previously opposed the Government over legislation for a no-deal Brexit and coronavirus lockdowns, said in a statement on his website: "There is of course a bigger picture here about leadership, honesty and decency. Not whether this Prime Minister can get away with it, but whether he should.

"I have said throughout this sorry saga I cannot and will not defend the indefensible. Rule makers cannot be law-breakers. We do need to move on but we cannot do that without regaining public trust and I am quite sure that’s not possible in the current situation."

David Simmonds - MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner - May 26

Mr Simmonds had two decades of local government experience as a Tory councillor in Hillingdon before becoming an MP in 2019.

Mr Simmonds told the Times newspaper: "I listened to what the Prime Minister had to say about Prime Minister's Questions, his statement and the 1922 Committee yesterday following the publication of the Sue Gray report.

"Having reflected on what he said, and the views of constituents and my Conservative Association, it is clear that while the government and our policies enjoy the confidence of the public, the Prime Minister does not.

"Accordingly, it is time for him to step down so that new leadership can take forward the important work of the Government in ensuring that our people and country prosper."

John Baron - MP for Basildon and Billericay - May 26 

Mr Baron has been an MP since 2001 and withdrew his support for Mr Johnson on May 26.

A former Army captain, he was a strong eurosceptic during the Brexit referendum and earned himself a reputation as a "serial rebel". 

He wrote on his website: "For me the most serious charge against the Prime Minister is that of knowingly misleading Parliament. Given the scale of rule-breaking in No 10, I can not accept that the Prime Minister was unaware.

"Therefore, his repeated assurances in Parliament that there was no rule-breaking is simply not credible. Having always said I would consider all the available evidence before deciding, I’m afraid the Prime Minister no longer enjoys my support – I can no longer give him the benefit of the doubt."

Stephen Hammond - MP for Wimbledon - May 26

Mr Hammond, a former minister, described the conclusions of the Gray report as "damning" for Mr Johnson.

"I have said consistently throughout I cannot and will not defend the indefensible," he said in a statement. "I am struck by a number of my colleagues who were really concerned that it's almost impossible for the PM to say I want to move on, as we cannot move on without regaining public trust and I am not sure that’s possible in the current situation.

"Since 9 December I have been critical of the Prime Minister’s behaviour and the culture that existed in Number 10. All I can do as a backbencher is speak out and submit a letter."

Alicia Kearns - MP for Rutland and Melton - May 27

Ms Kearns, who has been a prominent critic of the PM, confirmed two days after the report that she had submitted a letter of no confidence back in January.

"To say we just need to 'move on' is to treat with contempt and disregard the sacrifices of the people of Rutland and Melton, and our entire country," she wrote on Facebook. "All of us suffered, and many endured deep losses and heartbreak.

"My position remains unchanged since January - when I submitted my letter of no confidence -, and the Prime Minister continues not to hold my confidence. I remain committed to doing everything I can to support the communities of Rutland and Melton, and to upholding the true values of the Conservative Party."

Sir Bob Neill - MP for Bromley and Chislehurst - May 27

Sir Bob, an MP since 2006, said he had "listened carefully to the explanations the Prime Minister has given, in Parliament and elsewhere, and, regrettably, do not find his assertions to be credible".

Writing on his website, he said: "That is why, with a heavy heart, I submitted a letter of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady on Wednesday afternoon.

"Trust is the most important commodity in politics, but these events have undermined trust in not just the office of the Prime Minister, but in the political process itself. To rebuild that trust and move on, a change in leadership is required."

Anne Marie Morris - MP for Newton Abbot - May 28

Ms Marie Morris confirmed to Sky News she had not only had the Conservative whip restored after voting against a VAT cut on energy bills in January, but also submitted a letter of no confidence.

In January, she had described reports of parties at Downing Street as "frankly insulting to those who did what they were told".

Jeremy Wright - MP for Kenilworth and Southam - May 30 

Jeremy Wright, a former Attorney General and culture secretary, called for Mr Johnson to go in a 2,305-word essay posted to his website.

"I fear too that these events have done real and lasting damage to the reputation not just of this Government but to the institutions and authority of Government more generally," he wrote.

"It now seems to me that the Prime Minister remaining in office will hinder... crucial objectives. I have therefore, with regret, concluded that, for the good of this and future Governments, the Prime Minister should resign."

Elliot Colburn - MP for Carshalton and Wallington - May 30

A spokesman from his office confirmed to the PA news agency that Mr Colburn, who was elected in 2019 and gained his seat from the Liberal Democrats at that general election with a wafer-thin majority, told his constituents he had handed in his letter.

Andrew Bridgen - MP for North West Leicestershire - May 30

Mr Bridgen, who backed Mr Johnson to be leader in June 2019, said in February that he should stand aside within three months and warned of "a moral vacuum at the heart of our Government" in the wake of the "partygate" revelations, adding: "Sadly, the Prime Minister's position has become untenable."

He then publicly withdrew his letter of no confidence at a Telegraph event, citing the Ukraine crisis - in a sign that the Prime Minister’s “partygate” troubles had abated.

But in a statement at the end of May, Mr Bridgen said: "I and colleagues have put in a letter of no confidence over the past few days and it may well be the numbers are close to triggering a vote of no confidence. This would give the Parliamentary Party the opportunity to register whether they believe Boris Johnson is the person to continue leading the party or not."

John Stevenson - MP for Carlisle - May 31

Mr Stevenson, the MP for Carlisle since 2010, said in a statement posted on his Facebook and Twitter he had been "deeply disappointed in the revelations concerning the activities at No 10 as well as the approach taken by the Prime Minister in his response to Parliament".

He added: "The continuing criticism, revelations and questions are debilitating for the Government at a time when there are so many other important and critical issues to be addressed."

Jesse Norman - MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire - June 6

Mr Norman, a former Financial Secretary to the Treasury, was a minister until last autumn's reshuffle. He backed Mr Johnson's Conservative leadership campaign in 2019 and also supported his run for the London Mayoralty.

In a highly critical two-sided letter, he said he could "very sadly" no longer support Mr Johnson and attacked his Government's policy positions on the Northern Ireland Protocol, sending migrants to Rwanda, and the privatisation of Channel 4.

After the Prime Minister received a FPN 

Craig Whittaker - MP for Calder Valley - Apr 13

Mr Whittaker, who had previously been a staunch supporter of the Prime Minister, called for him to resign during a Facebook question-and-answer session.

"I not only think that the Prime Minister should resign but I also think that Rishi Sunak should resign as well", he said. "Through this whole process it hasn't been particularly clear that the Prime Minister broke any rules until of course he's been issued with a fixed penalty notice this week."

However, Mr Whittaker confirmed he would not submit a letter of no-confidence to the 1922 Committee as he expected that Mr Johnson would win a vote of Tory MPs.

Nigel Mills - MP for Amber Valley - Apr 13

Mr Mills broke ranks to become the first Conservative backbencher to call for Boris Johnson to quit since the Prime Minister was fined over the "partygate" scandal. 

He said that he no longer believed Mr Johnson's position as Prime Minister is "tenable". 

Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Mr Mills said: "In all conscience I don’t think a prime minister can survive or should survive breaking the rules he put in place and he was on the TV every few nights, reminding us all that we should observe. 

“We have to have higher standards than that of people at the top. He has been fined, I don’t think his position is tenable, in my view.” 

Karen Bradley - MP for Staffordshire Moorlands - Apr 15

Ms Bradley, a former Northern Ireland Secretary, told Stoke-on-Trent Live: "I will spend the next few days consulting my constituents and will decide on what action to take after listening to them.

"But I do wish to make it clear that if I had been a minister found to have broken the laws that I passed, I would be tendering my resignation now."

Mark Harper - MP for Forest of Dean - Apr 19

Mark Harper, the Tory former chief whip, called on Boris Johnson to resign and said the Prime Minister was no longer "worthy of the great office that he holds".

Mr Johnson told the House of Commons on Apr 19 that he apologised "unreservedly" after he was fined over the "partygate" scandal. 

But his apology was not enough to win over Mr Harper who told the Prime Minister he should now quit 10 Downing Street.

He later revealed on Twitter he had submitted a letter to the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives calling for a no-confidence vote in Mr Johnson. 

Steve Baker - MP for Wycombe - Apr 21

In a visibly emotional intervention in the Commons, Mr Baker said he was among MPs who "went out of our way not only to make him Prime Minister but to do our bit systematically to help him get an 80-seat majority".

"I’m afraid that the Prime Minister and those who advise him need to understand that this is a permanent stone in his shoe," he told MPs.

Steve Baker - Matt Dunham/AP
Steve Baker - Matt Dunham/AP

"The problem I have now got, having watched beautiful, marvellous contrition, it only lasted as long as it took to get out of the headmaster’s study. It’s not good enough for me and it’s not good for my voters. I’m afraid I’m now in a position where I have to acknowledge that if the PM occupied any other office of senior responsibility... he would be long gone.

"I’ve been tempted to forgive but the possibility of that really for me has gone. I’m sorry that for not obeying the letter and the spirit... the Prime Minister now should be long gone. The Prime Minister should just know the gig’s up."

Sir Roger Gale - MP for North Thanet - May 24

Sir Roger, 78, has been the Conservative MP for North Thanet since 1983.

Sir Roger submitted a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson over his handling of Dominic Cummings's trip to Durham during the first full lockdown, which he confirmed in May 2022 he had not withdrawn.

On Feb 1, he wrote: "I think the time has come for either the Prime Minister to go with dignity as his choice, or for the 1922 Committee to intervene."

But Sir Roger said in April the UK could not afford to have a "lame duck" prime minister while the Ukraine crisis is ongoing as he cautioned against ousting Boris Johnson now.

On May 24th, however, he issued a renewed demand for Mr Johnson's resignation and said photographs obtained by ITV News, showing the PM raising a toast with a group of colleagues when the country was in a second lockdown, were "staggering".

Following initial 'partygate' reports 

William Wragg - MP for Hazel Grove and Vice-Chairman of the 1922 Committee - Jan 12

Mr Wragg suggested Mr Johnson should take the decision to resign himself. He told the BBC that it was "a tragedy things have come to pass in this way", adding: "Unfortunately, I wasn't reassured. I fear this is simply going to be a continuing distraction to the good governance of the country."

He said it would be "preferable" for Mr Johnson to offer his resignation himself as MPs were "tired" and "frankly worn out of defending what is invariably indefensible".

"I don't believe it should be left to the findings of a civil servant to determine the future of the Prime Minister and indeed who governs this country. I think it is for the Conservative Party, if not the Prime Minister, in fact, to make that decision, and to realise what is in the best interest, so that we can move forward both as a party and a country," he said. 

He added that "no doubt the Prime Minister is reflecting deeply on what has happened, but I cannot in all sincerity see a way where these issues go away".

"It is deeply unfortunate, but I'm afraid it is... the inevitable conclusion is the only way to do that is with a change," he said.

Caroline Nokes - MP Romsey and Southampton North - Jan 13

Ms Nokes told ITV's Peston programme Mr Johnson had "put himself in an impossible position".

"The message I've had from my constituents is they feel let down they feel disappointed, and I know how hard they worked through the pandemic to abide by the rules," she said. 

"They now see that the Prime Minister wasn't in it together with them, that the rules were being broken in Downing Street, and that's very serious."

Ms Nokes said she recognised Mr Johnson "did a fantastic job" at the 2019 election, but she said: "Now regretfully, he looks like a liability, and I think he either goes now, or he goes in three years' time at a general election, and it's up to the party to decide which way around that's going to be. I know my thoughts are is that he's damaging us now."

Tim Loughton - MP for East Worthing - Jan 15

Tim Loughton
Tim Loughton

Tim Loughton, a former minister, publicly called for Mr Johnson to quit and said: "I am very angry too."

"Frankly the issue for me is not how many sausage rolls or glasses of Prosecco the Prime Minister actually consumed.

"The reason for my conclusion in calling for him to stand down is the way that he has handled the mounting revelations in the last few weeks."

David Davis - MP for Haltemprice and Howden - Jan 19

David Davis, the former Brexit Secretary, called on the Prime Minister to resign in a stinging rebuke during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. 

Mr Davis told Mr Johnson he had spent weeks defending him from "angry constituents", including by reminding them of the "successes of Brexit".

"I expect my leaders to shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take. Yesterday he did the opposite of that. So, I will remind him of a quotation which may be familiar to his ear: Leopold Amery to Neville Chamberlain," he said.

"You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. In the name of God, go."

Andrew Mitchell - MP for Royal Sutton Coldfield - Jan 31

The veteran MP and former Cabinet minister told Mr Johnson he “no longer enjoys my support” on the day Sue Gray published her interim update.

Mr Mitchell, the MP for Sutton Coldfield, reflected in the Commons on how he had given Mr Johnson his “full-throated support” for the last three decades of his career.

However, he added: “I am deeply concerned by these events and very concerned indeed by some of the things he has said from that despatch box and has said to the British public and our constituents.”

Peter Aldous - MP for Waveney - Feb 1

In a Twitter thread on Weds, Feb 1, Mr Aldous wrote: "After a great deal of soul-searching, I have reached the conclusion that the Prime Minister should resign.

"It is clear that he has no intention of doing so and I have therefore written to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee of Backbench Conservative MPs, advising him that I have no confidence in the Prime Minister as Leader of the Conservative Party.

"I have never taken such action before and had hoped that I would not be put in such an invidious position. Whilst I am conscious that others will disagree with me, I believe that this is in the best interests of the country, the Government and the Conservative Party."

Tobias Ellwood - MP for Bournemouth East - Feb 2

A vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson is now "inevitable", Tobias Ellwood has said as he confirmed he will submit a letter to the 1922 Committee later today.

Mr Ellwood told Sky News the ongoing row over alleged parties at Downing Street was "horrible" for Conservative MPs to continue to have to defend to the British public, and attacked "rushed policy announcements" from No 10.

"I don't think the Prime Minister realises how worried colleagues are in every corner of the party, backbenchers and ministers alike that this is all only going one way," Mr Ellwood told Sky News.

"I believe it's time for the Prime Minister to take a grip of this, he himself should call a vote of confidence rather than waiting for the inevitable 54 letters to be eventually submitted. It's time to resolve this completely, so the party can get on with governing.

"And yes, I know the next question you'll ask, I will be submitting my letter today to the 1922 Committee."

He also criticised Boris Johnson's claims about Sir Keir Starmer in relation to Jimmy Savile on Monday, adding: "We must seek to improve our standards."

Sir Gary Streeter - MP for South West Devon - Feb 2

Sir Gary Streeter also submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson on Weds, Feb 2 after the update issued by Sue Gray.

"I cannot reconcile the pain and sacrifice of the vast majority of the British public during lockdown with the attitude and activities of those working in Downing Street," wrote Sir Gary, who has been an MP since 1992.

"Accordingly, I have now submitted a letter seeking a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister. I have not come to this decision lightly. It is not my intention to say any more about this matter. I will focus on serving the residents of South West Devon."

Anthony Mangnall - MP for Totnes - Feb 2

On Weds, Feb 2, Anthony Mangnall confirmed he had submitted a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

"Standards in public life matter," he wrote on social media in light of Mr Johnson doubling down on his claims about Sir Keir and Savile at Prime Minister's Questions.

"At this time I can no longer support the PM.

"His actions and mistruths are overshadowing the extraordinary work of so many excellent ministers and colleagues. I have submitted a letter of no confidence."

Aaron Bell - MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme - Feb 4

Aaron Bell, who was elected in December 2019 as part of Mr Johnson's landslide election victory, was reported by the Sunday Times to have submitted a letter of no confidence, and on Feb 4 issued a statement confirming this.

He said that he was "profoundly disappointed that it has come to this" after backing the Prime Minister through Brexit, the vaccine roll-out and levelling up.

Mr Bell said that the events in Downing Street and "the manner in which they were handled" now meant that Mr Johnson's position was "untenable".

As the Prime Minister addressed MPs about Sue Gray's update on alleged breaches of lockdown rules at Downing Street and across Government, Mr Bell told MPs: "It seems a lot of people attended events in May 2020 - the one I recall attending was my grandmother's funeral. 

"I drove for three hours from Staffordshire to Kent, there were only 10 at the funeral, many people who loved her had to watch online. I didn't hug my siblings, I didn't hug my parents, I gave the eulogy and then afterwards I didn't even go to her house for cup of tea. I drove back three hours from Kent to Staffordshire. Does the Prime Minister think I'm a fool?"

Mr Bell said he wrote his letter after Prime Minister's Questions on January 12, "when I could not square the Prime Minister's words from the despatch box with his previous statements to the House before Christmas. Subsequently I have also struggled to reconcile assurances given directly to me with the implication of Sue Gray's interim findings."

Sir Nick Gibb - MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton - Feb 4

Writing for The Telegraph, Sir Nick, a former minister, said: "We need to face up to hard truths. To restore trust, we need to change the Prime Minister."

He added: "My constituents are furious about the double standards – imposing harsh and, to my mind, necessary restrictions as we and the world sought to defend ourselves against this new and deadly virus, while at the same time flagrantly disregarding those rules within the fortress of Downing Street."

The Tory who called for Johnson to go... but changed his mind

Neil Hudson  - MP for Penrith and the Borders

Dr Hudson, the Tory MP for Penrith and the Borders, maintained his position "that I categorically will not defend the indefensible".

"Destabilising the UK Government would undermine international efforts to support the Ukrainian people and bring the despicable Russian invasion to an end," he said in a statement.

"I will therefore be looking to the Prime Minister to show the statesmanship he has been showing with Ukraine, and outline a timetable and process for an orderly transition to a leadership election as soon as the international situation permits."

The Tory MSPs who echoed Douglas Ross's (initial) calls for Mr Johnson to go:

Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Russell Findlay, Maurice Golden, Meghan Gallacher, Jamie Halcro-Johnston, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Murdo Fraser, Douglas Lumsden, Liz Smith, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Brian Whittle, Edward Mountain, Sharon Dowey and Finlay Carson.

This article is kept updated with the latest information.

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