Kingswood MP says Boris must go in scathing letter declaring no confidence
Chris Skidmore says Mr Johnson's handling of allegations against another Tory MP amounts "to an effective cover up of sexual abuse"
Kingswood's Conservative MP says he has lost confidence in the Prime Minister (PM), with a scathing letter published on social media.
In the letter published today (July 6), Chris Skidmore says the PM was "repeatedly" informed about allegations of sexual misconduct against former Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher, but decided to give him the role anyway.
He goes on to say Boris Johnson has "not been truthful to the media, his own advisers, Number 10 officials and to the party", by claiming he did not know about the allegations, before back tracking and admitting he did.
"This is an extremely grave situation, that is tantamount to an effective cover up of sexual abuse that would never be tolerated in any normal, functioning, workplace," Mr Skidmore's letter reads.
The saga is quickly becoming the most serious challenge to Mr Johnson's leadership to date, with senior Cabinet members Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, then Chancellor and Health Secretary respectively, both resigning within minutes of each other on Tuesday night.
Cheltenham MP and Solicitor General Alex Chalk has also quit, as have education minister's Will Quince and Robin Walker, plus more than half a dozen other officials at time of writing.
It comes exactly one month after Mr Johnson survived a vote of no confidence in his leadership, which was sparked by a detailed report into lockdown breaking parties held in Downing Street during the pandemic.
The report, written by civil servant Sue Grey, criticised the PM's leadership and the culture in government that he has created, saying what happened "fell well short" of what the public had a right to expect.
Continuing in his letter, Mr Skidmore says the Prime Minister would have lost the vote if the details of the Pincher scandal had been known at the time.
He also says the rules, which currently state a Prime Minister who wins a no confidence vote cannot be challenged again for a year, need to be changed.
"Had we known, it would be highly unlikely that the party would have confidence in someone who has acted in this manner," Mr Skidmore's letter says.
"It is vital therefore that the 1922 (committee of backbench MPs) must now urgently reconsider the rules that prevent a new vote of no confidence from taking place.
"The Prime Minister has made it clear that he will not change.
"It is therefore time that we change the Prime Minister."
Others however are continuing to back Mr Johnson.
Nadine Dorries, the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, has said publicly that she remains "100 (per cent)" behind him as he "consistently gets all the big decisions right".
Nadhim Zahawi, who has been made Chancellor, replacing Rishi Sunak, is also backing the PM, saying he is focussed on delivering for the British people.