EXCLUSIVE: Extraordinary image shows 'raucous' Xmas party thrown by Tory aides in lockdown breach Our image shows 24 people crowded together in a room in the Tories' Westminster HQ for an event organised by Shaun Bailey’s mayoral campaign - Mr Bailey tonight quit as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee after being approached by the Mirror
'One more strike and Boris is OUT': Nightmare for 'failed' Prime Minister as he faces Tory meltdown after by-election 'earthquake' sees 23,000 majority in true-blue, Brexit-backing North Shropshire routed by Lib Dems
Senior Conservatives vented fury at Boris Johnson after a stunning turnaround saw the Lib Dems seize North Shropshire, a true-blue stronghold for nearly two centuries, by a margin of 6,000. The astonishing result immediately fuelled a seething uprising against the PM, who suffered one of the biggest Commons rebellions ever over Covid measures this week, and has been battling allegations of sleaze and lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street. North Shropshire had previously only had Tory MPs in its modern incarnation, forerunner constituencies were also held by the party, and staunchly backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum. But the latest contest was triggered by the resignation of ex-minister Owen Paterson after a disastrous attempt from Mr Johnson to save him from lobbying scandal last month. Tory MP Roger Gale said the defeat was a 'referendum on the PM's performance' and he is at 'last orders' time. He said Mr Johnson had suffered 'two strikes' and would be 'out' with one more.
MAIL ON SUNDAY EXCLUSIVE: 'You're going the wrong way Boris' - Lord Frost's resignation deals embattled PM a fresh blow, with Tory MPs backing key ally's fears over Government's direction over Plan B restrictions, tax hikes and Net Zero green agenda
MAIL ON SUNDAY EXCLUSIVE: Lord Frost, who negotiated Britain's departure from the EU as Brexit Minister, is understood to have handed his resignation to the Prime Minister a week ago, but was persuaded by Mr Johnson to stay in his post until January. Following the The Mail on Sunday's exclusive last night, Lord Frost has brought forward his departure from next month and instead agreed to 'step down with immediate effect', sending a hurried letter of resignation to the Prime Minister (bottom right) outlining his 'concerns about the current direction of travel'. A senior Government source said Lord Frost's departure had been prompted by the introduction of 'Plan B' Covid measures, including vaccine passports. But that was just the final straw after months of growing discontent over tax rises and the staggering cost of 'net zero' environmental policies. Conservative MPs are increasingly talking about a challenge to the Prime Minister's leadership within the next six months, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss leading the field of contenders. Messages from a Whatsapp group (left) of more than 100 Tory MPs titled 'Clean Global Brexit', reveal Andrew Bridgen describing the move as a 'disaster' while Theresa Villiers calls it 'very worrying'. Culture minister Nadine Dorries described Mr Johnson as a 'hero' and then appears to be removed from the group before Steve Baker writes 'Enough is enough'. In his letter, released by Downing Street, Lord Frost praised Mr Johnson's work to implement the EU referendum result, but added: 'Brexit is now secure. The challenge for the Government now is to deliver on the opportunities it gives us. You know my concerns about the current direction of travel. I hope we will move as fast as possible to where we need to get to: a lightly regulated, low-tax, entrepreneurial economy, at the cutting edge of modern science and economic change.'
Christmas Day in JEOPARDY? Sajid Javid warns government must act before it is 'too late' as desperate PM bats away SAGE demands for curbs on households mixing BEFORE Dec 25 - with fears Omicron could hit 2MILLION cases a day by New Year
Fears over Christmas as SAGE warns on Omicron threat The festive season is in the balance as SAGE experts raise alarm that the number of infections could reach two million by the end of the month without tougher restrictions. Medical ad science chiefs Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance are said to have briefed the Cabinet yesterday that more measures are required to stop hospital admissions soaring above 3,000 per day in England. There is deep resistance among ministers about the prospect of plunging millions of people back into lockdown wrecking Christmas again while evidence remains unclear. Questions have also been raised about whether Mr Johnson even has the political capital to push through restrictions, after a massive revolt against Plan B last week and the bombshell resignation of his Brexit minister Lord Frost overnight. However, Health Secretary Sajid Javid appeared to hint at a looming shift this morning, warning that when data become 'clear' it might be 'too late to react'.
New Allegra tape headache for Boris: No10 braces for fresh embarrassment amid fears ex-spokeswoman was questioned about the PM's private life in ANOTHER excerpt from Partygate tape that could be screened in days
Officials at 10 Downing Street are said to be in a 'state of panic' over further recordings of Boris Johnson's former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton that include her responses to questions about the Prime Minister's personal life. Ms Stratton's now-infamous mock press conference (left), filmed in December last year, showed Downing Street staff joking about holding a Christmas party in No 10 which 'was not socially distanced' - after a week of denials that any party had taken place. It forced Mr Johnson into a humiliating Commons apology, led to Ms Stratton's tearful doorstep resignation and contributed to the loss of the 23,000 Tory majority at Thursday's North Shropshire by-election. But former and current No 10 staff fear that further damning tapes, including embarrassing material for the Prime Minister, might also be in circulation. A source told The Mail on Sunday that the recorded sessions included mock questions aimed at Ms Stratton referring to 'mistresses' and 'love children' of Mr Johnson.
Now Jeremy Hunt and Nadhim Zahawi jostle for poll position in Tory succession race as MPs openly discuss who they'd back if contest to replace Boris was held tomorrow
Jeremy Hunt was Boris Johnson's final opponent in the 2019 Tory leadership contest. But in the end, Tory members backed the Brexit-supporting Mr Johnson over Remainer Mr Hunt.
Boris plans to 'reboot' his embattled Government, with Jacob Rees-Mogg and Tory chief whip 'vulnerable' in the PM's mini-reshuffle
Sources said that after last week's revolt by nearly 100 Tories over Covid restrictions, the Prime Minister was planning to 'clear out' the Whips Office, in a small, targeted reshuffle.
I'm not so sure that Johnson looks quite as bad. When you look at the majority of the alternatives.
Guess which one's odds are shortening? Liz Truss.
I just looked at the odds on oddschecker.com. The betting on Liz Truss is weird. Bet365 have her at 12/1, while William Hill go 5/2. All of them have Rishi Sunak as quite a short priced favourite.
Comments
Our image shows 24 people crowded together in a room in the Tories' Westminster HQ for an event organised by Shaun Bailey’s mayoral campaign - Mr Bailey tonight quit as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee after being approached by the Mirror
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/extraordinary-image-shows-raucous-xmas-25699183
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/tory-mp-needing-to-pay-school-fees-pleaded-for-lucrative-middle-east-work/ar-AARQ9Ch?ocid=msedgntp
Senior Conservatives vented fury at Boris Johnson after a stunning turnaround saw the Lib Dems seize North Shropshire, a true-blue stronghold for nearly two centuries, by a margin of 6,000. The astonishing result immediately fuelled a seething uprising against the PM, who suffered one of the biggest Commons rebellions ever over Covid measures this week, and has been battling allegations of sleaze and lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street. North Shropshire had previously only had Tory MPs in its modern incarnation, forerunner constituencies were also held by the party, and staunchly backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum. But the latest contest was triggered by the resignation of ex-minister Owen Paterson after a disastrous attempt from Mr Johnson to save him from lobbying scandal last month. Tory MP Roger Gale said the defeat was a 'referendum on the PM's performance' and he is at 'last orders' time. He said Mr Johnson had suffered 'two strikes' and would be 'out' with one more.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10318821/Polls-close-North-Shropshire-election-Lib-Dems-aim-send-shiver-Boriss-spine.html
Nadine Dorries 'kicked off' Tory MPs' WhatsApp group after defending 'hero' Boris Johnson
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/nadine-dorries-kicked-off-tory-015200048.html
MAIL ON SUNDAY EXCLUSIVE: Lord Frost, who negotiated Britain's departure from the EU as Brexit Minister, is understood to have handed his resignation to the Prime Minister a week ago, but was persuaded by Mr Johnson to stay in his post until January. Following the The Mail on Sunday's exclusive last night, Lord Frost has brought forward his departure from next month and instead agreed to 'step down with immediate effect', sending a hurried letter of resignation to the Prime Minister (bottom right) outlining his 'concerns about the current direction of travel'. A senior Government source said Lord Frost's departure had been prompted by the introduction of 'Plan B' Covid measures, including vaccine passports. But that was just the final straw after months of growing discontent over tax rises and the staggering cost of 'net zero' environmental policies. Conservative MPs are increasingly talking about a challenge to the Prime Minister's leadership within the next six months, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss leading the field of contenders. Messages from a Whatsapp group (left) of more than 100 Tory MPs titled 'Clean Global Brexit', reveal Andrew Bridgen describing the move as a 'disaster' while Theresa Villiers calls it 'very worrying'. Culture minister Nadine Dorries described Mr Johnson as a 'hero' and then appears to be removed from the group before Steve Baker writes 'Enough is enough'. In his letter, released by Downing Street, Lord Frost praised Mr Johnson's work to implement the EU referendum result, but added: 'Brexit is now secure. The challenge for the Government now is to deliver on the opportunities it gives us. You know my concerns about the current direction of travel. I hope we will move as fast as possible to where we need to get to: a lightly regulated, low-tax, entrepreneurial economy, at the cutting edge of modern science and economic change.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10324429/Brexit-minister-Lord-Frost-walks-Boris.html
Fears over Christmas as SAGE warns on Omicron threat
The festive season is in the balance as SAGE experts raise alarm that the number of infections could reach two million by the end of the month without tougher restrictions. Medical ad science chiefs Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance are said to have briefed the Cabinet yesterday that more measures are required to stop hospital admissions soaring above 3,000 per day in England. There is deep resistance among ministers about the prospect of plunging millions of people back into lockdown wrecking Christmas again while evidence remains unclear. Questions have also been raised about whether Mr Johnson even has the political capital to push through restrictions, after a massive revolt against Plan B last week and the bombshell resignation of his Brexit minister Lord Frost overnight. However, Health Secretary Sajid Javid appeared to hint at a looming shift this morning, warning that when data become 'clear' it might be 'too late to react'.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10325809/Fears-Christmas-SAGE-warns-Omicron-threat.html
https://video.dailymail.co.uk/preview/mol/2021/12/18/383781568325829830/636x382_MP4_383781568325829830.mp4
Officials at 10 Downing Street are said to be in a 'state of panic' over further recordings of Boris Johnson's former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton that include her responses to questions about the Prime Minister's personal life. Ms Stratton's now-infamous mock press conference (left), filmed in December last year, showed Downing Street staff joking about holding a Christmas party in No 10 which 'was not socially distanced' - after a week of denials that any party had taken place. It forced Mr Johnson into a humiliating Commons apology, led to Ms Stratton's tearful doorstep resignation and contributed to the loss of the 23,000 Tory majority at Thursday's North Shropshire by-election. But former and current No 10 staff fear that further damning tapes, including embarrassing material for the Prime Minister, might also be in circulation. A source told The Mail on Sunday that the recorded sessions included mock questions aimed at Ms Stratton referring to 'mistresses' and 'love children' of Mr Johnson.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10324485/New-Allegra-Stratton-tapes-Boris-Johnson-circulation.html
Jeremy Hunt was Boris Johnson's final opponent in the 2019 Tory leadership contest. But in the end, Tory members backed the Brexit-supporting Mr Johnson over Remainer Mr Hunt.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10324501/Jeremy-Hunt-Nadhim-Zahawi-jostle-poll-position-Tory-succession-race.html
Boris plans to 'reboot' his embattled Government, with Jacob Rees-Mogg and Tory chief whip 'vulnerable' in the PM's mini-reshuffle
Sources said that after last week's revolt by nearly 100 Tories over Covid restrictions, the Prime Minister was planning to 'clear out' the Whips Office, in a small, targeted reshuffle.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10324877/Boris-plans-reboot-embattled-Government-Jacob-Rees-Mogg-vulnerable.html
Most of the 9/4 has gone on Rishi Sunak.
https://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/next-conservative-leader