Conservative MP Simon Fell condemns 'toxic' Partygate

This comes as speculation continues to mount that enough Conservative MPs have written to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee to trigger a confidence vote.

Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell has joined the voices of the critics - but has fallen short of confirming whether he has submitted a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

In a statement which described the Downing Street culture as ‘toxic’ and ‘a slap in the face’, he said public trust had been eroded and claimed: “Once trust is lost, the whole house of cards is at risk of collapse.”

In an email to constituents, Mr Fell said: “Since the rumours first started about potential parties at Downing Street, a cloud has been growing over British politics that has eroded trust. That is a toxic situation to be in.

“It beggars belief that when the government was doing so much to help people during the pandemic, a rotten core with an unacceptable culture carried on regardless of the restrictions placed on the rest of us."

Mr Fell claimed that, like his constituents, he had followed the rules and made 'immeasurable' sacrifices during the pandemic.

He said: “To many of us, these findings are a slap in the face. The culture that Ms Gray’s report details is unforgivable, and I certainly will not be defending it. There were no exceptions in the rules for the activities that took place, and there is no excuse whatsoever for them."

“We have so much to be getting on with - a massive task at hand - to level up, to support Ukraine to victory, to help people with the cost of living. This is all a very sorry distraction to that.”

So far, more than 25 Conservative MPs have publicly called for Mr Johnson to resign, less than half the 54 needed to trigger a confidence vote.

There may be other MPs who have submitted letters to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady but not said so publicly, while it is possible that some of those calling for Mr Johnson to go have not written letters.