Boris Johnson has reportedly been slammed by Tory MPs who claim his days as prime minister may be numbered.
Two years on from his election victory, cracks are appearing in Mr Johnson’s leadership – with the prime minister criticised for ‘Tory sleaze’, the breaking of electoral law and allegations parties were held at Downing Street
He is also facing heavy scrutiny over his handling of the pandemic, and a rebellion in the Commons as he tries to push through new restrictions to combat the Omicron variant.
A number of Tory party sources have been quoted slating the Tory leader – with five MPs from the 2019 intake said to have written letters demanding he quit.
One Tory MP told the i the mood within the party was currently similar to the final days of Theresa May’s premiership.
They said: ‘Two years on almost to the day from Boris’s biggest triumph he has, not to put too fine a point on it, f***ed it.
‘His chances of making the next election have slipped well below 50-50. He is treating the British public like he has his previous relationships and it’s not an edifying sight.’
A former Cabinet minister, who now sits on the backbenches, added that while Mr Johnson had survived numerous rocky periods, every scandal added up.
Every time a leader gets ‘battered and bruised’, more MPs begin to think they aren’t ‘up to it’, they are said to have claimed.
Another senior Tory reportedly told the i: ‘The trouble is, no one likes him. He has never been an MP who gets along with people, so it means he has no support base inside the Commons.’
Lord Geidt, the PM’s independent advisor, is said to be ‘on the brink of quitting’ after Mr Johnson was accused misleading him over the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.
Jack Doyle, Mr Johnson’s press chief, is understood to have offered to resign after it emerged he had attended a Downing Street party while restrictions were in place.
Meanwhile, Allegra Stratton, the PM’s former aide, tearfully resigned over the scandal earlier this week.
Next week Mr Johnson will face two tests – the first will come on Tuesday, when MPs vote on Covid restrictions, which could see a massive rebellion in the commons.
Tory whips have reportedly been doing the rounds in an attempt to persuade dozens of MPs who are wavering to back the legislation, while dozens have already said they plan to rebel.
On Thursday, the damage Westminister events have had on voters confidence will be tested in the North Shropshire by-election to replace Owen Paterson.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Downing Street for comment.
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