Boris Johnson privately told MPs he would “do it”. again” in as for partygate, hours after his own anti-corruption czar stepped down over Reaction number 10 to the scandal.
prime minister was defiant when he was challenged at a caucus by angry defenders of in no-confidence vote.
Asked about his original statement in house of communities that are not rules was broken in No. 10, Mr. Johnson told MPs, “I would do it again”.
It has come hours after Conservative MP John Penrose, who served as a government anti-corruption fighter since December 2017, wrote a scathing resignation letter blaming prime minister of violation of the ministerial code due to failure to provide adequate leadership over A party.
He said that Mr. Johnson failed respond to “very strong criticism” of Sue Gray’s report of guide to Downing Street.
Mr. Penrose wrote: “The only fair conclusion from Sue Gray’s report is that you have violated the fundamental principle of ministerial code – clear resignation case.
“But your letter to an independent adviser [Lord Geidt] on the ministerial code ignores this absolutely central, non-negotiable issue fully. And, if he turned to him, it hard see how he could come to any other conclusion than that you cracked the code.”
He added: “As a result, I’m afraid it would not be honorable and not right for I, too remain as your corruption fighter after coming to this conclusion, nor for To you remain as prime minister or.
“I hope you’ll step aside so we can look at future and choose your successor.”
Leader of Scottish Tory Douglas Ross said he would vote against Mr. Johnson, hearing “loudly and clear anger to break of COVID-19 rules” and even more so in statements parliament from prime minister on This theme”.
In another direction of anger felt on tory benches, former minister Jesse Norman – who previously a longtime supporter of Mr Johnson – published a scathing letter prime minister recall it support.
Mr Norman said that Gray’s report showed that Mr Johnson “presided over culture of accidental breaking of the law at 10 Downing Street”, adding: “Calling yourself a ‘justified’ report is grotesque.”
BUT government The source said Mr Johnson was very specific when he told MPs he would “do it again”and what did he mean fact that “he will thank the staff for them hard work when they left his employment.”
