Stand by me, Johnson tells MPs as he pins blame on ‘bad advice’

The British Prime Minister tells Tory MPs he has received ‘bad advice’ and warns that deposing him could result in a general election.

Boris Johnson held meetings with more than a dozen Tory MPs in recent days as he tries to shore up his support before a potential no-confidence vote. Picture: AFP

Boris Johnson has told Tory MPs that he has received “bad advice” and warned that deposing him could result in a general election as Downing Street gets ready for the publication of a report into lockdown-breaking parties.

The Prime Minister held 15-minute meetings with more than a dozen Tory MPs in recent days as he tries to shore up his support before a potential confidence vote.

He has claimed that his successor would have to hold an election to legitimise their leadership and also argued that now is the wrong time to remove him given that Russia is on the brink of invading Ukraine.

Mr Johnson is said to have expressed contrition for mistakes that have been made but said he did not personally break the rules. “He said we’re going to get through it, I’m sorry about all this,” one Tory MP said. “He seemed slightly put upon.”

The Prime Minister was critical of the advice he had received on a range of issues. The comments were seen as a sign that he will overhaul his top team.

The publication of a report into lockdown parties by Sue Gray, a senior civil servant, was delayed as discussions with government lawyers continued. Ms Gray wants her findings to be published in full but Johnson is said to be considering reducing them to a summary, despite repeatedly committing himself to publishing the report. Ms Gray is expected to send her report to Mr Johnson today (Thursday) but some in government believe that it could be delayed until Monday.

Ms Gray’s team has contacted officials in Downing Street to offer support before the publication of her report. She is understood to be concerned that a number of junior staff working in No. 10 will be implicated in her report and face police questioning.

As a result a number of “duty of care” calls have been made, explaining to staff what support they can expect.

Keir Starmer reminds Johnson that he committed to placing ‘a copy of the report in the library of the House of Commons’.

One source suggested that Ms Gray was concerned that at least some of the parties had been attended and organised by junior officials in Downing Street. There is evidence that senior members of Mr Johnson’s team were aware that they were taking place and attended. She is said to believe that it was the responsibility of those in a position of power to have made clear that such events were unacceptable, rather than lower-level officials taking the blame.

At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, reminded Mr Johnson that he had said in December he would “place a copy of the report in the library of the House of Commons”.

Sir Keir continued: “His spokesperson has repeatedly stated that means the full report, not parts of the report, not a summary of the report, not an edited copy. So, can the Prime Minister confirm that he will publish the full Sue Gray report as he receives it?”

Mr Johnson replied: “We’ve got to leave the report to the independent investigator, as he knows. Of course when I receive it, I will do exactly what I said.”

No. 10 has refused to rule out making changes to its commitment on the basis that the Scotland Yard investigation could complicate matters. One option under consideration is publishing a summary of Ms Gray’s findings. Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, said yesterday (Wednesday) there could be “security issues”, which would make elements of the report “problematic to publish”.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss says there could be ‘security issues’, which would make elements of the report ‘problematic to publish’. Picture: Getty Images

It came amid a backlash to the Johnson camp’s claims that a new prime minister would have to call a general election. Under the fixed-term parliaments act the next election will not be held until May 2024. An early election can only take place if a motion of no-confidence is passed by 434 MPs, with an alternative government unable to form. The Tories are planning to repeal the act, which would make it easier to call an early election.

The Times