Boris Johnson must clear out Downing Street “immediately” without waiting for publication of the Sue Gray report into the ‘“Partygate”’ scandals, a senior Conservative has told The National.
For the British prime minister to survive his leadership crisis he needs a massive overhaul of the Number 10 operation with both senior civil servants and special advisers removed this weekend, former foreign minister Tobias Ellwood said.
It appears that the much-anticipated investigation by Ms Gray, a senior Cabinet Office official, has been delayed potentially until Wednesday to examine further allegations. She now has six full-time investigators to scrutinise emails, WhatsApp messages and interview staff.
But Mr Ellwood, chairman of the defence committee, stated that Mr Johnson should act now.
“Everybody is waiting for this Sue Gray report to come out but I don’t think we should wait that long, we should start overhauling Number 10 immediately as we know that needs to happen, so let's get on with it,” he told The National. “I know it's a difficult job but the nation can then have faith that Downing Street itself is improving.”
Most Conservative MPs are waiting for the Gray report before considering whether to unseat Mr Johnson. In the hiatus, cabinet ministers are attempting to boost his position.
“The prime minister has my 100 per cent support,” said Liz Truss during a trip to Australia.
“He is doing an excellent job,” the foreign secretary said, and she wants him “to continue as long as possible in his job”.
Other senior cabinet ministers have similarly attempted to appear loyal while at the same time knowing that a leadership contest with the prize of becoming prime minister could be imminent.
Mr Johnson had appeared to shore up his position after a strong performance at prime minister’s Questions on Wednesday, in which he robustly dealt with an MP defecting to Labour and a senior Tory publicly telling him to resign.
But his authority has once again ebbed away over allegations that government whips, who enforce party discipline, used blackmail and intimidation to ensure MPs’ loyalty.
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The Metropolitan Police have announced a formal investigation into alleged lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street, dealing a heavy blow to Boris Johnson's authority as he faces fresh calls to step down as British Prime Minister over the 'partygate' scandal. Getty Images -
A protester in Parliament Square, London. PA -
Armed police officers walk past the gathered media outside No 10 Downing Street on Tuesday morning. PA -
Mr Johnson holds up a birthday cake - baked for him by school staff - during a visit to Bovingdon Primary Academy in June 2020. The prime minister is facing new allegations of breaking coronavirus rules after it was reported that a gathering to wish him a happy birthday was held inside No 10 during the first nationwide lockdown. PA -
Mr Johnson is driven from Downing Street. Reuters -
A plane flies over Elland Road stadium in Leeds with a message directed to Mr Johnson during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United. Getty Images -
The prime minister seems unimpressed as Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament. AFP -
Labour MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, who defected from the Conservative Party earlier that day, attending Prime Minister's Questions. AFP -
David Davis, Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden, quoted a comment made to Neville Chamberlain before his 1940 resignation as prime minister, telling the beleaguered Mr Johnson: ‘I will remind him of a quotation all too familiar to him ... 'in the name of God, go'.’ AFP -
Dominic Cummings, former adviser to Mr Johnson, speaks to the media outside his home. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson looks as if he is feeling the pressure on a visit to Finchley Memorial Hospital in London. Getty Images -
The shuttered constituency office of Mr Wakeford in Radcliffe, Bury, after he switched his party political allegiance. Getty Images -
Mr Wakeford looks on during a visit by Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to Bury. Getty Images
There is now the prospect that at the weekend text messages and secret recordings of underhand tactics will be released, making Mr Johnson’s position very difficult.
“The intimidation of a Member of Parliament is a serious matter,” said senior MP William Wragg. “Reports of which I am aware would seem to constitute blackmail”.
During a visit to Taunton on Friday Mr Johnson denied the allegations. “I’ve seen no evidence, heard no evidence, to support any of those allegations,” he said.
However, that position appeared to be undermined after Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said an investigation was needed “to get to the bottom of the matter” of the “completely unacceptable” blackmail allegations.
It now seems inevitable that following the Gray report senior Downing Street officials will leave, but MPs will also seek the removal of some younger special advisers with limited real life experience who were linked to the partying and alleged blackmail.
Instead of Mr Johnson’s previous style of “imperial” government, power will return to the cabinet, with Ms Truss and Chancellor Rishi Sunak competing as the main contestants to replace him.
If Mr Johnson does survive the coming week his position could be permanently weakened, and he will, like his predecessor Theresa May, essentially become a caretaker prime minister with a cabinet more focused on succession than support.
