Senior minister warns Boris Johnson 'is in real trouble' and MPs are 'moving towards a ballot'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A senior minister has warned the Prime Minister "is in real trouble here" following the publication of the Sue Gray report into the 'partygate' scandal.

The former Conservative party leader and Cabinet minister, Lord Hague of Richmond, argued that the report has left a sour taste in the mouths of many in the Conservative Party.

It comes after Sir Bob Neill, Conservative chairman of the Justice Select Committee, said he was surprised that "some senior civil servants in Downing Steer are still in post after what was found." Sir Neill told Times Radio: "Now I’m surprised frankly that some senior civil servants in Downing Street are still in post after what was found, but ultimately the political leadership, I’m afraid, stops with the Prime Minister and the accountability to the public stops with the Prime Minister.” Read more: Uswitch respond to government's plan to subsidise energy bills for the most vulnerable He claimed there has been a "very strong feeling of a loss of faith" in the operation of the current government, adding: "I think that then feeds through into a sense that the Government is unable to move on from this, a sense that there is a degree of drift.

Although we’ve done some good things, many worthwhile things, we’re not actually getting a grip of the agenda going forward. "That requires, I think, a fresh momentum and it requires real drive and I don’t think that the situation that unfortunately has happened in Number 10 leaves the Prime Minister able to take that initiative.” He went on: “In the long term, charisma which the Prime Minister has and energy which he’s shown isn’t always enough.