These are the Conservatives calling for Boris Johnson to resign as prime minister

The number of Tory MPs publicly calling on Boris Johnson to quit continues to grow. Credit: PA

After almost two years of obeying coronavirus laws, many people in the UK were upset to learn that some members of the government were not following the rules that they themselves had set.

For weeks, Boris Johnson, amid numerous allegations of rule-breaking on Downing Street, had managed to brush away claims that he'd been involved.

But now twelve events which took place on Downing Street during the pandemic are subject to a criminal investigation, with the Met Police even looking into a party held inside the PM's own flat.

Prime Minister Johnson apologised after Sue Gray's report said there was a "failure of leadership" in Number 10 under his watch, but that hasn't stopped colleagues losing faith in him.

More than 20 letters of no confidence in the PM are thought to have been submitted so far, however that number is well short of the 54 required to trigger a vote on his leadership.

The majority of those to have submitted letters have chosen to remain anonymous.

Here are those who are publicly calling on the PM to resign:

Tobias Ellwood - chair of the Commons Defence Committee who has been an MP since 2005

Tobias Ellwood is chairman of the Commons Defence Committee. Credit: PA

The senior Tory has submitted a letter of no confidence in the prime minister.

Explaining his decision to Sky News, he said his colleagues have been struggling with the "horrible" task of having to "continuously" defend the partygate scandal to the public.

"I don't think the prime minister realises how worried colleagues are in every corner of the party, backbenchers and ministers alike, that this is all only going one way and will invariably slide towards a very ugly place," said the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East.

He added: "I will be submitting my letter today to the 1922 Committee."

Sir Gary Streeter - the MP for South West Devon

South West Devon MP Sir Gary wrote on Facebook: "I cannot reconcile the pain and sacrifice of the vast majority of the British Public during lockdown with the attitude and activities of those working in Downing Street.

"Accordingly, I have now submitted a letter seeking a motion of no confidence in the prime minister.

"I have not come to this decision lightly. It is not my intention to say any more about this matter."

Peter Aldous - the MP for the Waveney constituency in Suffolk

The Tory MP said Mr Johnson's resignation would be "in the best interests of the country, the Government and the Conservative Party".

Mr Aldous, who has previously voiced dissatisfaction at the government's handling of the allegations, wrote: "After a great deal of soul-searching, I have reached the conclusion that the Prime Minister should resign.

"It is clear that he has no intention of doing so and I have therefore written to the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Backbench Conservative MPs, advising him that I have no confidence in the prime minister as leader of the Conservative Party.

"I have never taken such action before and had hoped that I would not be put in such an invidious position.

"Whilst I am conscious that others will disagree with me, I believe that this is in the best interests of the country, the government and the Conservative Party."

Andrew Mitchell - former chief whip under David Cameron

Tory former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell told Mr Johnson in the Commons that he "no longer enjoys my support".

"I think this is a crisis that is not going to go away and is doing very great damage to the party," he told Today.

"It is more corrosive, in my judgment, than the expenses scandal was, and it will break the coalition that is the Conservative Party."

Aaron Bell - a Tory MP from the 2019 intake

The MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme attacked the PM after Sue Gray's report was published as he recalled abiding by coronavirus restrictions for his grandmother's May 2020 funeral before asking: "Does the prime minister think I'm a fool?"

He submitted a letter of no confidence on Friday 4 February.

He told ITV News prior to handing in the letter: "It's pretty clear if you read the room, from what I said yesterday, that I have serious problems, not only with the operation at No 10 but the leadership of this country."

David Davis - The former Cabinet minister is the most senior MP to call on Boris Johnson to quit

He told the PM he had spent weeks defending him from "angry constituents", including by reminding them of the "successes of Brexit", but said he expects leaders to "shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take".

"You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. In the name of God, go."

Douglas Ross MP MSP - The intervention by the leader of Scottish Conservatives is perhaps the most significant as he leads a whole wing of the party.

Mr Ross said the PM must quit, telling reporters: "I said yesterday if the prime minister attended this gathering, party, event in Downing Street on May 20 then he could not continue as prime minister. So regretfully I have to say his position is no longer tenable."

The Scot said Mr Johnson's apology implies "acceptance from the prime minister that it was wrong and therefore, I don't want to be in this position, but I am in this position now, where I don't think he can continue as leader of the Conservatives".

William Wragg MP - The senior Tory is chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

The Hazel Grove MP said he was "particularly concerned as a Conservative MP" by the behaviour of the PM.

"The prime minister's position is untenable and I don't believe it should be left to the findings of a civil servant to determine the future of the Prime Minister, and indeed, who governs this country," he told the BBC.

Caroline Nokes MP - Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and was a minister in Theresa May's government.

"He looks like a liability and I think he either goes now, or he goes in three years' time at a general election. And it's up to the party to decide which way around that's going to be.

"I know my thoughts are that he's damaging us now, he's damaging the entire Conservative brand with an unwillingness to accept the strictures that other people have lived by."

Asked if she felt it was better for the sake of their party if Mr Johnson goes now, Ms Nokes said: "Absolutely."

Sir Roger Gale - The veteran MP has represented North Thanet since 1983 and has been elected 10 times.

He told ITV News that the prime minister should either resign "with dignity" or backbench Tories will be forced to remove him with letters of no confidence.

Baroness Ruth Davidson - The former MSP, who led Scottish Tories, is credited with helping the Conservatives overtake Labour in Scotland and is a powerhouse within the party.

The top Tory asked "what were any of these people thinking?" Regarding those who attended the party.

"A tough call. But the right one," she tweeted in response to Mr Ross's statement.

Andrew Bridgen - The MP for North West Leicestershire is a staunch Brexit supporter and former Boris Johnson ally.

On Thursday evening, the Tory MP joined the chorus of prominent voices calling for Mr Johnson’s resignation, announcing he had submitted a letter of no confidence.

He told ITV News it is time for the prime minister to resign "for the good of the country, Parliament and the Conservative Party" and believes there are "more revelations to come" as he suspects Dominic Cummings has further information to release.


"He can't get himself out of these revelations, I think there's more to come and they'll be equally damaging"


Mr Bridgen told ITV News on Friday: "What we're seeing is a constant drip, drip of revelations coming out.

"That means the prime minister is now the story... he can't function and do his job properly, it's interfering with the running of government and his position now is untenable. I don't think this is going to stop."

He further said Mr Johnson has "lost his moral authority to lead the country" and that it is "clear the culture was wrong at No10".

"Leadership is about setting an example, leading by example and certainly when you're asking people who are following you to make sacrifices and suffer privations, you've got to be willing to suffer those, bear those yourself," he added.

"And what we've seen at No10 is that they're not."

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi - The Tory peer who served as a minister under David Cameron has been a critic of Boris Johnson in the past

The former co-chair of the Tory Party, one of the most prominent Conservatives in the House of Lords, wrote on Twitter that the all current ministers should quit after being implicated in partygate.

"Every minister, parliamentarian & staffer at any #downingstreetparty must resign NOW. No ifs no buts.

"The rule of law is a fundamental value-the glue that hold us together as a nation.

"Once that is trashed by those in power the very essence of our democracy is at stake."

Tim Loughton - The former minister, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, wrote a lengthy post on Facebook.

He said: “I have regretfully come to the conclusion that Boris Johnson’s position is now untenable, that his resignation is the only way to bring this whole unfortunate episode to an end and I am working with colleagues to impress that view on Number 10."

Mr Loughton went on to say he was "deeply sorry" for the hurt caused to those who made sacrifices during the Covid lockdown and said it was appropriate to expect everyone to follow the rules equally.

The Tory MP said he had come to his conclusion following some “lively conversations” with constituents on Saturday, adding: “Frankly the issue for me is not how many sausage rolls or glasses of prosecco the prime minister actually consumed. The reason for my conclusion in calling for him to stand down is the way that he has handled the mounting revelations in the last few weeks."

Christian Wakeford - The Bury South MP submitted a letter of no confidence in the prime minister to the 1922 committee before defecting to the Labour Party.

He said the country needs a government that "upholds the highest standards of integrity and probity" but told Mr Johnson "both you and the Conservative Party as a whole have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves".

Nick Gibb - MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton and former education minister

Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Gibb said "to restore trust, we need to change the prime minister". He added that his constituents were “furious about the double standards” and said the prime minister had been “inaccurate” in statements to the Commons.

20 Tory Members of the Scottish Parliament have also urged the PM to quit

Here they are:

  • Jackson Carlaw

  • Russell Findlay

  • Maurice Golden

  • Meghan Gallacher

  • Jamie Halcro-Johnston

  • Craig Hoy

  • Liam Kerr

  • Stephen Kerr

  • Murdo Fraser

  • Douglas Lumsden

  • Miles Briggs

  • Alexander Burnett

  • Donald Cameron

  • Liz Smith

  • Sue Webber

  • Annie Wells

  • Finlay Carson

  • Brian Whittle

  • Edward Mountain

  • Sharon Dowey