Former cabinet minister Dame Andrea Leadsom has blamed Boris Johnson for “unacceptable lack of leadership” over the party’s doorstep scandal.
The former business secretary is the 40th Conservative MP to question Johnson’s position as prime minister since he was fined by the Met for violating downing rules on Downing Street, according to a Sky News count.
Dame Andrea sent a letter to her constituents in South Northamptonshire on Monday, in which she said that after careful study of Sue Gray’s report on the holiday party scandal, “it is very clear to me that given the scope and severity of non-compliance with the rules over a 20-month period, it is very unlikely that senior executives were unaware of what was happening. “
The Brexiteer leader, who supported Johnson in his leadership campaign, said: “Therefore, I agree with Sue Gray’s findings that there have been major leadership failures, both political and official, in the number 10 and at the cabinet office.
“The conclusion I have drawn from Sue Gray’s report is that there have been unacceptable leadership failures that cannot be tolerated and are the responsibility of the Prime Minister.”
She added that she and all Conservative MPs “must decide now what is the right course of action that will restore confidence in our government”.
A steady stream of Conservative MPs expressing their displeasure with the Prime Minister following the release of Sue Gray’s report last Wednesday has become more of a stream.
Three more were presented on Monday, including Elliot Colburn, one of the 2019 participants, who confirmed that he had sent a letter of censure to the Prime Minister to the chairman of the 1922 Conservative Committee of Deputies.
This leads to 27 Conservative MPs who have publicly called for the Prime Minister to review the party scandal.
Former Conservative leader Lord Hague reacted to Dame Andrea’s comments on Times Radio: “The fuse is approaching dynamite here and accelerating.”
He said the prime minister is in “real trouble” when senior Conservatives like Dame Andrea and Sir Bob Neill confront him.
Lord Hague said it looks like Johnson could face a leadership vote “next week or towards the end of June”.
A total of 54 letters – 10% of Conservative MPs – have to be handed over to Sir Graham Brady to activate a leadership vote, and he is the only person who knows how many have come forward.
Before meeting the threshold for a leadership vote on Theresa May, only 24 MPs had revealed that they had sent a letter, but in fact 48 or more letters had been delivered.
Downing Street is likely to be preparing for a possible leadership vote, which is unlikely to happen this week as MPs are in recess.
Some MPs have said they will not reveal their views on the conclusion of Sue Gray’s report until after the recess, which has sparked speculation in Westminster that more letters will be delivered next week.