Partygate: Pinner Tory MP calls for Prime Minister to resign

David Simmonds, who represents Pinner, Northwood, and Ruislip, today (May 26) urged the Prime Minister to step down.

He is the 19th Tory MP to publicly call for his resignation.

In a statement, Mr Simmonds, 46, said: “I listened to what the Prime Minister had to say at Prime Minister’s Questions, his statement and the 1922 Committee yesterday following the publication of the Sue Gray report.

“Having reflected on what he said, and the views of the constituents and my Conservative association, it is clear that while the Government and our policies enjoy the confidence of the public, the Prime Minister does not.

“Accordingly, it is time for him to step down so that new leadership can take forward the important work of the Government in ensuring that our people and country prosper.”

David Simmonds MP statement

Civil servant Sue Gray’s 60-page report detailed events at which Downing Street officials drank so much they were sick, sang karaoke, became involved in altercations and abused security and cleaning staff at a time when millions of people across the country were unable to see friends and family.

Downing Street’s chief of staff said the Prime Minister has made a “significant change” to No 10 by shaking up his team and apologising for the lockdown-busting events.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Credit: PA

The report came nearly a week after the Metropolitan Police concluded its investigation into Covid breaches at the heart of Government.

The force handed out 126 fines for rule breaches in No 10 and Whitehall, with the Prime Minister receiving a single fixed-penalty notice for his birthday party in June 2020.

Mr Johnson has so far resisted calls to step down from both within his party and opposition members.

Under Conservative Party rules, there must be a vote on the Prime Minister’s future if 54 MPs write to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, saying they have lost confidence in their leader.