Monday 4 July 2022 09:42 AM Sleaze row emboldens Tory rebels in plot to rip up party rules and force ... trends now

Boris Johnson is being warned the latest sleaze scandal facing his Government has emoboldened Tory rebels as they renew their efforts to oust him from Number 10.

The Prime Minister is under pressure over his decision to appoint Chris Pincher as the Conservative deputy chief whip in February.

Questions are being asked about what Mr Johnson knew of the 52-year-old's conduct - who has been suspended as a Tory MP following claims he drunkenly groped two men - as a slew of fresh allegations emerge against him.

It has even been claimed Mr Johnson referred to the MP as being 'handsy' - and joked he was 'Pincher by name, pincher by nature' - before appointing him to the key role in charge of Tory discipline.

The PM is facing the fresh sleaze scandal - which has caused a Cabinet backlash - just ahead of what could prove to be critical internal elections within the Conservative Party.

Tory MPs are next week set to decide on key positions on the powerful 1922 Committee - which are now being seen as a proxy vote on Mr Johnson's future, amid plans to change party rules to allow another no confidence ballot on the PM's leadership. 

But Mr Johnson, who is set to face the House of Commons for the first time this afternoon after his recent nine-day foreign trip, will be expected to hit back against the continued plotting by Tory rebels.

The PM is due to report back to MPs on his attendance at last week's Commonwealth, G7 and NATO summits - in which he will be keen to stress the role he is playing in international efforts to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and in support ing Ukraine against Russia's invasion.