Senior Conservative MPs asked ministers how long it would take to continue to tolerate dishonest government after the Chris Pincher row.
Boris Johnson’s anti-corruption tsar John Penrose suggested that it was time for Boris Johnson to say, “Enough is enough”.
William Wragg, chairman of the select committee, urged ministers to resign with a sense of decency.
Over allegations of sexual misconduct, Mr Pincher was removed from office as a Conservative MP.
Tamworth MP, who claims he is seeking professional medical assistance, denies misconduct. BBC has reached out to him for comment.
According to a government source, the BBC has been told by a government source that morale is low in government and that cabinet mood is changing.
In February of this year, Mr Johnson promoted Mr Pincher as deputy chief whip, despite formal complaints being made about his behavior.
Downing Street claimed that Johnson was unaware of any “specific allegations”.
BBC News reported Monday that the prime minister was aware of a formal complaint regarding the MP’s behavior. Simon McDonald, a former top civil servant at The Foreign Office, wrote to the Parliamentary Standards Commission, confirming that Mr Johnson had been “in person” briefed about the allegations in 2019.
Michael Ellis, Cabinet Office Minister, told MPs that the prime minister couldn’t “immediately recall” the conversation in 2019. This was after new allegations against Mr Pincher surfaced last week.
He said, “As soon he was reminded of this, the No10 press office corrected their public line.”
He said Labour critics of his government were “sanctimonious” because they are more interested in “personalities than the issues that matter to the public.
Peter Bone, a veteran Conservative MP, said that many opposition MPs only show up at the Commons to “bash Boris”.
Boris Johnson’s handling on the Chris Pincher allegations was described as “Embarrassing” by a normally supportive MP.
They claim that Downing Street’s shifting position is putting their loyalty in jeopardy and is “eroding trust in politics.”
According to Number 10, MPs are “walking, talking advertisements” that allow rebels to be elected to the backbench committee 1922 in an effort to organize a leadership challenge. They claimed that the PM had a 50/50 chance to survive until the end.
Backbenchers are often openly critical of Johnson, but they’re also more vulnerable. Their loyalty is being tested, and they’re asking how much they will defend Johnson.
A minister close to Mr Johnson expressed sympathy with colleagues who had to repeat a Number 10 line only to have their legs “tripped out of under them.”
Minister said that rigorous testing of public statements was not happening.
The prime minister visited the Commons tearoom on Tuesday afternoon to talk to MPs to increase support.
Simon Hoare, another critic against Mr Johnson, rebuffed the move by tweeting: “Been There. That’s what I did. The T-shirt was purchased. ‘I’m sorry. I’ll listen. I will listen. It’s not going to work any more. The tactical ship has been sailed and sunk.
Angela Rayner, Labour deputy leader, stated that the Pincher row revelations revealed an “ethical vacuum at the heart” of Downing Street.
Senior Tories, including those who attempted to overthrow Mr Johnson in a vote of confidence last month, also joined the opposition in criticizing Johnson.
Last month, Mr Penrose, the PM’s anticorruption advisor, resigned. He accused Number 10 for flouting Nolan principles of public living, which include “honesty”.
“How many more of these seven principles will they have to break before he will stand up to say, ‘Enough is Enough’?” He asked Ellis.
Ministers were urged by Mr Wragg to “consider what they are asked to say in public, which changes seemingly every hour”, and for people with a sense of decency to “consider their positions”.
Jackie Doyle-Price, former government whip, told MPs that Simon McDonald’s letter contained enough information to inform the prime minister that his appointment was not wise. He could have used the talents of the honorable gentleman in another department, just as he had done before.
She called for a “complete reset,” of ministerial standards. “I think that we are now on a half-dozen different degrees of honesty with whom the knowledge of these incidents has been addressed by Number 10.
Sir Bernard Jenkin was the chairman of the powerful Liaison Committee and demanded to know why leaders promote people with “the wrong attitude or the wrong behavior”.
Caroline Johnson, a backbencher for the PM, asked Mr Ellis why he wasn’t fired in 2019. He said that the allegations against Mr Pincher were similar to the ones about his “bad behavior” at the Carlton Club. This has resulted in him being suspended.
Ellis stated that he could not “talk to that” and added: “We must do all we can to protect confidentiality of those who file complaints.” It is very concerning that this matter was handled by certain individuals, which could lead to a breach in confidentiality.
According to a government source, there are two schools of thought in Downing Street about how to deal with the Pincher row. One was to “batten down all the hatches”, and one was to “be more open” about what was known.
