Former Minister Tobias Ellwood and backbench Julian Sturdy described the partygate as a “distraction” during a difficult time for the country.
Mr Sturdy joined the list of Conservative MPs who want Mr Johnson to resign, saying the report showed that the Prime Minister “has presided over a widespread culture of contempt for coronavirus regulations”.
In a statement posted to Twitter on Wednesday evening, York MP Outer said: “Questions are now being asked about whether the Prime Minister deceived Parliament when asked about these events.
“Speaking to voters, it is clear that discussions about the Downing Street festivities remain a detrimental distraction at a time when our country is facing massive challenges with the return of war to Europe, a global cost crisis of life and our recovery from the pandemic is more important than ever.
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“It simply came to our notice then.
“Although I thought it was important to wait for the conclusion of the Metropolitan Police investigation and the publication of the Sue Gray report, now I cannot give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt and I feel that it is now in the public interest to to him. to resign. “
Ellwood was questioned by other Conservative MPs in the House of Commons when asked if they could continue to defend Mr Johnson’s behavior.
The MP said on the report on the blockade parties at number 10: “This is a condemned report on the lack of leadership, focus and discipline at number 10, the only place where you expect to find these attributes in abundance.
Boris Johnson is holding a press conference on Wednesday following the release of Sue Gray’s report
/ Getty Images
“I have made my point and my position clear to the Prime Minister: he does not have my support.
“But a question I humbly asked my colleagues is, ‘Are you willing to defend this behavior in public every day?’
However, Johnson challenged calls to resign, saying he “overwhelmingly” believes he should remain in office despite public outrage over the “bitter and painful” findings of the party’s investigation.
The Prime Minister said on Wednesday that he acknowledged that people are “outraged” by the findings of Mrs Gray’s report on the breach of the law at the heart of the government.
He said he assumed “full responsibility” for the scandal, but tried to minimize his personal involvement in the meetings detailed in the report.
Gray’s report details events in which officials drank so much that they were sick, sang karaoke, engaged in altercations, and abused security and cleaning staff at a time when millions of people across the country did not go. to be able to see friends and family.
Johnson said at a press conference in Downing Street, “I understand why people are outraged and why people are angry about what happened.”
The Prime Minister is asking questions in the House of Commons this Wednesday
/ via REUTERS
Pressed on whether he ever thought of resigning, he replied: “I think it is overwhelming that my job is to move on and comply.
“No matter how bitter and painful the conclusions of this are – and they are – and no matter how humble they are, I must keep moving forward and the government must keep moving forward. And we are. “
Many Conservative MPs gave a silent response to the report, but a quick YouGov poll suggested that three out of five Britons want Mr Johnson to resign.
But a conservative ally of Johnson’s argued that it would be “ridiculous” for him to resign now.
A new embarrassing detail was the “multiple examples of disrespect and mistreatment” of the cleaning and security staff during the events, which Ms. Gray said it was “unacceptable.”
Johnson apologized, described his treatment as “disgusting” and “totally intolerable,” and said he has begun “doing some research” to find out who was behind the behavior.
The report said the number 10’s “high leadership” must “take responsibility” for the culture that caused the blocking rules to be broken at a number of events in 2020 and 2021.
Ms Gray added: “The events I investigated were attended by government leaders. Many of these events should not have been allowed.”
The Metropolitan Police have issued 126 fines for breaching the rules at No. 10 and Whitehall, and the Prime Minister received a single fixed-term notice for his birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.
But the senior official, Ms. Gray, condemned the broader culture that had been allowed to develop under Johnson’s leadership.
He said some minor officials who attended parties “believed that their participation in some of these events was allowed given the attendance of senior leaders.”
“The center’s top leadership, both political and official, must be responsible for this culture,” he added.
“Many will be appalled that such behavior has taken place at this scale in the heart of the Government.
“The public has a right to expect the highest standards of behavior in these places and it’s clear that what happened was a long way from that.”
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons that the report “exposed rot” at number 10 and called on Conservative MPs to tell Mr Johnson “the game is over” and that it is “time to do it” the suitcases”.
Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford called on the Prime Minister to step down to “orchestrate” Downing Street scenes.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Any other Prime Minister would be forced to resign for a report as damaging as this, but Conservative MPs still defend Johnson and allow him to hold on.”
But it was the Conservative MPs who decided his fate, and Johnson also apologized at a closed-door meeting of the 1922 House of Representatives Committee.
Earlier, Ellwood, a prominent critic of the prime minister, challenged Johnson for the “condemnation report” which revealed a “lack of leadership, focus and discipline at number 10.”
He asked his fellow Conservatives, “Are you willing to publicly defend this behavior on a daily basis?” and “Can we win the general election in this current trajectory?”
The conclusions of the consultation include:
– Staff were drinking at number 10 until the wee hours of the morning of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, with the last recorded departure at 4.20am.
– Johnson joined five advisers at a “food and alcohol” event at his Downing Street apartment on the eve of the announcement of Dominic Cummings’ departure as chief executive.
– Then-Chief Ethics Officer Helen MacNamara provided a karaoke machine for a cabinet office meeting where one person was ill and there was a “minor altercation” between two other people.
– The then senior adviser to Prime Minister Martin Reynolds boasted of “it looks like we got away with it” a garden party to bring you your drink in a WhatsApp message to a special adviser.
– Mr. Johnson brought cheese and wine from his own apartment to a meeting in the garden on May 15, 2020.
The report includes a series of photos, with Mr. Johnson photographed at the surprise birthday party in the Cabinet Room on June 19, 2020 for which he was fined.
He is seen with Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and Chancellor Rishi Sunak with sandwiches, juice and what appears to be lager. An image shows Mr. Johnson lifting a can of beer.
Other photos include previously seen images of Mr. Johnson raising a glass of wine on an outing for his former Dr. Lee Cain on November 13, 2020.
In a statement from the Commons, Mr Johnson reiterated his apologies for the birthday party and added: “I take full responsibility for everything that happened during my watch.
“Sue Gray’s report has emphasized that it is up to the number 10 political leadership to take ultimate responsibility, and of course I do.”
Johnson said he was “humbled” by the experience and had learned his lesson.