Conservative party chair Oliver Dowden has insisted there is a “strong case” for Boris Johnson to remain as prime minister, despite growing backbench anger over the government’s handling of the partygate scandal and fears over upcoming local elections.
Johnson now faces three probes into the allegations of rule-breaking throughout the pandemic: the House of Commons privileges committee, which will be led by senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin; Operation Hillman, the Metropolitan Police investigation; and the inquiry by civil servant Sue Gray.
Dowden said on Sunday that he recognised the “legitimate hurt and anger” of the public over the issue of partygate but argued that the “uncertainty” caused by a change of leader at this time “would be dearly damaging” to the country.