Boris Johnson's political future is hanging in the balance as his own MPs broke cover to call for him to quit over the Downing Street party saga.
Angry Red Wall MPs have been heaping pressure on the Prime Minister as Westminster buzzes with rumours over how many letters of no confidence have gone into the Tory backbench 1922 Committee.
Only 1922 chairman Sir Graham Brady knows the true number but tensions are running high as Boris Johnson tries to win over his mutinous MPs.
Six senior Tories have openly called for Mr Johnson to quit but reports of a Red Wall rebellion are adding to the PM's woes.
Dubbed the "pork pie plot" as a meeting was hosted by the Melton MP Alicia Kearns, it underlines the level of anger among some of the 2019 intake.
And Bury South MP Christian Wakeford dramatically abandoned the Tories for the Labour Party on Wednesday.
Here we look the new rebels making life difficult for Boris Johnson.
What is a 'Red Wall' Tory MP?
The term loosely refers to the Conservatives who won their seats off Labour during Boris Johnson's 2019 election landslide.
The "Red Wall" is a nickname for Labour's traditional heartlands in England and Wales, particularly seats in the North of England, North Wales and the Midlands .
A swathe of these seats turned Tory in 2019, including Tony Blair's old seat of Sedgefield, in Co Durham, Blyth Valley in Northumberland and Workington in Cumbria.
These MPs were perceived as loyal to Boris Johnson but discontent has been mounting over broken promises on levelling up and rail reform.
Partygate has also landed badly with voters, and some of these new MPs may be feeling vulnerable going into the next election.
Who are the Pork Pie plotters?
Alicia Kearns
The former Foreign Office official has been outspoken about the UK’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and the handling of the crisis by senior civil servants.
Ms Kearns, 34, MP for Rutland and Melton has hosted meetings of anti-Johnson plotters - leading to the plan being named after Melton Mowbray’s most famous export.
Her 26,924 majority in the safe blue East Midlands seat allows her the luxury of plotting.
Dehenna Davison
The PM’s then girlfriend and now wife Carrie was pictured campaigning with Ms Davison in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham in the run-up to the 2019 ballot.
The 26-year-old's stunning victory was the first time the Tories had won the seat in nearly 100 years.
The arch Brexiteer presents a GB News show with ex-UKIP chief Nigel Farage.
Gary Sambrook
The Birmingham Northfield MP is a Covid passport rebel and said the PM must "consider his position" if he is found to have broken lockdown laws.
As secretary of the 1922 Committee, Mr Sambrook, 32, would be one of the MPs responsible for running a no-confidence vote and subsequent leadership race.
Chris Loder
The former train guard, 40, worked his way up through the industry to become head of new trains for South Western Railway.
His majority of 14,106 in the Conservative stronghold of West Dorset should make him electorally immune to fury at the PM and Partygate.
Christian Wakeford
The Bury South MP didn't attend the meeting but he became the first Red Wall Tory to say publicly that he had submitted a latter of no confidence.
Within 24 hours he had defected to Labour, dramatically joining the party for Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.
In an excoriating letter to Boris Johnson, he said: "Britain needs a Government focused on tackling the cost-of-living crisis and providing a path out of the pandemic that protects living standards and defends the security of all.
"It needs a Government that upholds the highest standards of integrity and probity in public life and sadly both you and the Conservative Party as a whole have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and Government this country deserves."
He added: "My decision is about much more than your leadership and the disgraceful way you have conducted yourself in recent weeks."
