Boris Johnson is scheduled to meet intensively with Tory MPs over the weekend, in order to counter any potential leadership challenges.
Whitehall sources claimed that the Prime Minister was forced to rip up his calendar to speak with struggling MPs in advance of Sue Gray’s expected publication of an official inquiry into the Partygate row.
Some MPs may be seen individually, while others might be asked for their views in smaller groups.
According to sources, similar meetings were held earlier in the week and helped defuse threats of a coup by Red Wall MPs.
Johnson will encourage MPs to look at the larger picture, highlighting the successes of Johnson’s strategy in dealing with Omicron, which has seen the UK freed from Covid restrictions more quickly than any other European country.
One Tory senior said that the sessions had not been a success and the PM was not willing to make any further damaging statements.
Whitehall sources claim that the Prime Minster had to take out his diaries to meet with MPs before the publication, next week, of Sue Gray’s official inquiry into Partygate. (Pictured by the PM at PMQs on Wednesday).
Sources claimed that Mr Johnson had asked Lee Anderson, MP from Ashfield in Nottinghamshire to retract a lack of confidence letter sent to Sir Graham Brady by Tory shop steward Tory, and Anderson declined.
The source added that the PM became ‘very emotional’ during the meeting – a version of events denied by No 10.
Yesterday, Mr. Anderson (a former Labour councillor) declined to confirm whether he received a letter from the PM or refused it.
But another Tory MP said reports claiming rebels were withdrawing their letters were ‘bull****’.
Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison, identified by Tory whips as a ringleader of the Pork Pie Plot, denied this yesterday – but did not voice support for Mr Johnson.
According to the Northern Echo, she said that she was extremely angry at the response of the Prime Minister and Downing Street parties.
The Prime Minister, or the Conservative Party as a whole, will decide what the future looks like.
“Officially, I’ve had several conversations with colleagues regarding this as it is with all political developments, policy-based or not, but to suggest that I’m leading an coup is absurd.
While visiting a Taunton health centre, Mr Johnson did not comment on yesterday’s plotting.
Partygate: The Whitehall ethics chief Sue Gray will lead the official inquiry. It is due to publish next week.
According to him, his number one priority was to look at the condition of America as it emerges from Covid. He also stated that they hoped that we are now following a path back towards complete normality.
Dominic Cummings was Mr Johnson’s former advisor. He claimed that Miss Gray had discovered emails to show that he was telling truthful information about the parties, and No. 10 was ‘lying.
Sajid Javid, Health Secretary, urged MPs to wait until the report is published.
While he acknowledged that people had the right to be upset over lockdown-busting allegations at No 10 but emphasized that the PM is safe and secure in his position, he said the same.
Steve Baker, a Brexiteer, was a key player in Theresa May’s demise. He said that the situation “does not look like checkmate” for Johnson.
Rishi Sunak (Chancellor), a leading candidate for the job of Mr Johnson should the PM be forced to resign, declined to discuss the topic during a Stoke visit, insisting that he and his Government are focused on their “levelling up” agenda.