Former Prime Minister Sir John Major is reported to be planning to criticise Boris Johnson over the 'partygate' scandal in a key speech tomorrow (Thursday).
Sir John, who was PM from 1990 to 1997, is to speak at the Institute for Government think tank and deliver a speech called In Democracy We Trust, the Telegraph reports.
It is understood Sir John will question Downing Street's response to multiple allegations of gatherings during lockdown - some of which are under police investigation.
The speech, the Telegraph reports, will accuse Prime Minister Boris Johnson of 'corroding' trust in politics.
Mr Johnson's premiership has been put under increasing pressure after a series of gatherings in Downing Street during lockdowns came to light.
Senior civil servant Sue Gray has been tasked with investigating the claims and a redacted update on her findings was published last week. A Metropolitan Police probe continues.
Sir John has criticised Mr Johnson before over Brexit (Sir John was a keen remainer) and over the current PM's attempt to protect the then Tory MP Owen Paterson over a lobbying controversy.
Today, Billionaire Tory donor John Armitage said he finds the lack of honour in modern politics “incredibly distressing”.
He told the BBC: “I feel that if you lose moral authority, and if you do things, which, you know, the average person, your mother, someone you try to explain, 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.
“And I find the lack of honour inherent in modern politics incredibly distressing.”
Asked about Boris Johnson’s tinkering of his team at Number 10, he expressed doubt, saying: “I don’t know people in Downing Street. I’m not close to the situation, but I think it’s about more than… but, if, like, I’m failing and I’ve done a few things wrong, ‘oh gosh, I’m going to change my advisers’.
“God above. What about a sense of personal responsibility? ‘Oh I’m going to change my chief of staff and it will all be fine.’ Oh really?”
