DARLINGTON MP Peter Gibson has said he is supporting beleaguered Prime Minister Boris Johnson as pressure over the ‘partygate’ scandal increases.

The Tory leader is under fire over a string of revelations over social gatherings among Down Street staff allegedly breaching strict Covid restrictions in place across the country.

Criticism has been levelled by the PM’s former chief aide, Dominic Cummings, who said he warned Mr Johnson gatherings in the garden at Number 10 were ill-advised.

Mr Johnson faced a bruising session at PMQs on Wednesday lunchtime with several MPs calling for his resignation.

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However, Mr Gibson said he was not among the ‘Red Wall’ Tory MPs said to be plotting to oust Mr Johnson.

He said: “As far as I am concerned at this point in time the Prime Minister has my full support.

“I have this job in large part thanks to his efforts and his campaigning in the 2019 election.

“It isn’t for me at this stage to start criticising the man who has delivered Brexit, has given the country leadership throughout the pandemic, given us a successful vaccine rollout and booster campaign, as well as the fastest growing economy in Europe at this time.

“As a loyal and dutiful Conservative MP I must highlight those positives that our entire country has benefitted from.”

National news reports have suggested meetings have been held among back benchers as part of a coup to trigger a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson.

Mr Gibson said: “I have not been to any meetings. I have not been invited to any meetings.

“If people believe their success and future is by turning our party into a split and divide party then in my personal view is they are wrong.

“The Prime Minister has been successful is doing what must be the most difficult job in the world at this time.”

Mr Gibson refused to disclose whether he would or would not be sending a letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of 1922 committee, to trigger a vote of no confidence.

He said: “I am not going to get drawn on whether I am or am not writing a letter.

“If I, as a Conservative MP, want to send a confidential letter on confidential basis to a colleague I am not going to go to the press and tell them.

“Any speculation who has, who hasn’t, who will, who won’t is not helpful to anyone.

“Anyone can say anything about it and you have no way of verifying it.

“Even if I have I would not say.”

North-West Durham MP Richard Holden said he would wait until the outcome of Sue Gray’s inquiry into Downing Street parties before deciding whether he would or would not be sending a letter to Sir Graham.

Blyth Valley MP Ian Levy said: “I understand the comments, concerns and anger of Blyth Valley residents and it’s right that an inquiry is being carried out by Sue Gray.

“Waiting for the inquiry is not, on my part, an attempt to avoid the issue, but to ensure that we can be aware of the facts.

“In the meantime, I won’t be distracted from the job in hand and I’m going to continue to focus on the main priorities in the Blyth Valley – bringing more and better jobs, improving our infrastructure and dealing with concerns and issues of individual residents.

“I was elected to do that and I remain as focused as ever.”

During PMQ’s Sedgefield Paul Howell was among the Tory loyalists who asked the PM ‘soft’ questions to give Mr Johnson respite from the repeated calls to stand down over ‘partygate’.

Mr Howell said: “The Opposition have been told that there is going to be an inquiry, but they have wasted every single question on one issue while my constituents want us to get on with other things.

“In January 2021, the Government estimated that at least £800 million would be released from the dormant asset scheme extension.

“Does the Prime Minister agree that funding through a new community wealth fund would be a catalyst to level up the most left-behind communities and that the Dormant Assets Bill should include specific provision for a consultation on the scope, shape and nature of such a fund?

The Prime Minister said the Government will be legislating to expand the dormant assets scheme to include new financial assets, which would unlock an estimated £880 million.

Mr Johnson said: “We will be considering how to spend the English portion of that.

“The community wealth fund that my honourable friend proposes is certainly an option and I thank him very much.”

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