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Boris Johnson facing further calls to resign amid parties row Boris Johnson is facing further calls to resign amid parties row
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson is facing further calls to resign, as Tobias Ellwood became the latest Tory MP to say he wants to oust him from office.Boris Johnson is facing further calls to resign, as Tobias Ellwood became the latest Tory MP to say he wants to oust him from office.
The Bournemouth East MP said he would be submitting a letter of no confidence in the PM, amid the ongoing row over lockdown parties in No 10.The Bournemouth East MP said he would be submitting a letter of no confidence in the PM, amid the ongoing row over lockdown parties in No 10.
He joins colleague Peter Aldous, who said on Tuesday he had done the same.He joins colleague Peter Aldous, who said on Tuesday he had done the same.
At least 54 Tories must submit letters to set up a vote on the PM's future.At least 54 Tories must submit letters to set up a vote on the PM's future.
A handful of Tory MPs, including Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, have said they have submitted letters to the backbench 1922 Committee, which runs leadership contests.A handful of Tory MPs, including Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, have said they have submitted letters to the backbench 1922 Committee, which runs leadership contests.
But the exact number of letters submitted is not known.But the exact number of letters submitted is not known.
How long do Tories think Boris Johnson has got?How long do Tories think Boris Johnson has got?
The Covid rules when Downing Street parties were heldThe Covid rules when Downing Street parties were held
What does Sue Gray's parties report say?What does Sue Gray's parties report say?
Mr Johnson is seeking to head off a leadership challenge prompted by weeks of damaging headlines about parties in government buildings held whilst Covid restrictions were in place.Mr Johnson is seeking to head off a leadership challenge prompted by weeks of damaging headlines about parties in government buildings held whilst Covid restrictions were in place.
Initial findings from senior official Sue Gray's inquiry, published on Monday, revealed 12 events are now under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.Initial findings from senior official Sue Gray's inquiry, published on Monday, revealed 12 events are now under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
Mr Ellwood, who chairs the Commons Defence Committee, said he thought it was "inevitable" the 54 letters threshold would be reached.Mr Ellwood, who chairs the Commons Defence Committee, said he thought it was "inevitable" the 54 letters threshold would be reached.
Adding that Mr Johnson should set up a vote on his leadership himself, he added: "this is all only going one way - and will invariable slide towards a very ugly place". Adding that Mr Johnson should set up a vote on his leadership himself, the former minister said: "This is all only going one way - and will invariable slide towards a very ugly place."
'Jump the gun'
Speaking to Sky News, he added it had become "just horrible" for the party's MPs to "continuously have to defend this to the British public".Speaking to Sky News, he added it had become "just horrible" for the party's MPs to "continuously have to defend this to the British public".
"I don't think the prime minister realises how worried colleagues are in every corner of the party, backbenchers and ministers alike," he added."I don't think the prime minister realises how worried colleagues are in every corner of the party, backbenchers and ministers alike," he added.
Another former minister told the BBC on Wednesday they had resolved to submit a no-confidence letter in the PM, but they are waiting until they are sure he would lose the subsequent vote.
Under Tory party leadership rules, Mr Johnson would be safe from another challenge for a year if he won a no-confidence vote in his leadership.
The former minister added that colleagues "didn't want to jump the gun" and then be "powerless to act for another year".
"The end is almost inevitable. The question is - is now the right time to put a letter in?" they added.
Tobias Ellwood has been an MP since 2005 and was a defence minister during Theresa May's premiershipTobias Ellwood has been an MP since 2005 and was a defence minister during Theresa May's premiership
Meanwhile, Downing Street has refused to comment on reports of Mr Johnson's further attendance at some of the events being investigated by police.Meanwhile, Downing Street has refused to comment on reports of Mr Johnson's further attendance at some of the events being investigated by police.
The Daily Telegraph reported he attended an event for two departing officials on 14 January 2021 - with the Guardian adding that he gave a speech and stayed for "around five minutes".The Daily Telegraph reported he attended an event for two departing officials on 14 January 2021 - with the Guardian adding that he gave a speech and stayed for "around five minutes".
The Telegraph also said he attended an event for another departing official on 17 December 2020, and a gathering in his Downing Street flat on 13 November 2020.The Telegraph also said he attended an event for another departing official on 17 December 2020, and a gathering in his Downing Street flat on 13 November 2020.
Asked about the reports, No 10 said it would not comment on the Met's ongoing investigation.Asked about the reports, No 10 said it would not comment on the Met's ongoing investigation.
Asked on Monday whether he attended the event in his flat, Mr Johnson refused to say, adding he would not give a "running commentary" on the police probe.Asked on Monday whether he attended the event in his flat, Mr Johnson refused to say, adding he would not give a "running commentary" on the police probe.
Writing on his blog on Tuesday, the PM's former aide Dominic Cummings claimed he had spoken to people who were in No 10 on that date and "could hear the party" in the flat.
"I've spoken to people who say they've seen photos of parties in the flat," he added.
Savile remarks rowSavile remarks row
Ahead of Prime Minister's Questions later, Mr Johnson is also facing calls to withdraw a claim he made on Monday that Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions (DPP).Ahead of Prime Minister's Questions later, Mr Johnson is also facing calls to withdraw a claim he made on Monday that Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions (DPP).
Sir Keir has called the comments a "ridiculous slur" - whilst Nazir Afzal, a former chief crown prosecutor for the North West, said on Monday: "It's not true. I was there. Keir Starmer had nothing to do with the decisions taken."Sir Keir has called the comments a "ridiculous slur" - whilst Nazir Afzal, a former chief crown prosecutor for the North West, said on Monday: "It's not true. I was there. Keir Starmer had nothing to do with the decisions taken."
The Labour leader was head of the Crown Prosecution Service in 2009 when Surrey Police interviewed Savile and consulted a CPS lawyer, who decided there was insufficient evidence for a prosecution to take place.The Labour leader was head of the Crown Prosecution Service in 2009 when Surrey Police interviewed Savile and consulted a CPS lawyer, who decided there was insufficient evidence for a prosecution to take place.
The CPS has said Sir Keir was not the reviewing lawyer on the case, and there is no mention of his involvement in a 2013 review into the case.The CPS has said Sir Keir was not the reviewing lawyer on the case, and there is no mention of his involvement in a 2013 review into the case.
On Wednesday, Sir Bob Neill became the latest senior Tory to call on Mr Johnson to withdraw his claim - calling it "baseless and unworthy".On Wednesday, Sir Bob Neill became the latest senior Tory to call on Mr Johnson to withdraw his claim - calling it "baseless and unworthy".
He joins former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith, who said on Tuesday the PM's accusation was "wrong and cannot be defended".He joins former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith, who said on Tuesday the PM's accusation was "wrong and cannot be defended".