Backlash to Boris Johnson's shock departure is fading, Rishi Sunak is told trends now

Rishi Sunak was last night told that a backlash over Boris Johnson's shock departure was coming under control amid calls for the party to unite to keep Labour out of No 10.

After a frantic weekend of phone calls and arm-twisting, Conservative whips informed the Prime Minister that the threat of mass resignations by Mr Johnson's supporters over his ousting from Parliament was receding.

Mr Sunak is today expected to break his silence over his predecessor's resignation. 

Sources said he would use an appearance at a tech summit in London to pay tribute to Mr Johnson's record, but urge Conservative MPs to focus on the public's priorities.

He will also fight back over claims by allies of Mr Johnson that he blocked key nominations on his predecessor's resignation honours list. 

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday said 'the world has moved on' from Mr Johnson's time in office.

And ex-leader Michael Howard said the party had to choose between backing Mr Sunak and handing power to Sir Keir Starmer.

Lord Howard said: 'I would urge Tory MPs to remember that they have a choice between uniting behind the PM... or facing the fact that the country will be run by someone who at the last election wanted Jeremy Corbyn to be prime minister.' 

We cannot undo the events 

Downing Street was rocked on Friday night by Mr Johnson's decision to pre-empt a critical report on the Partygate saga by standing down from Parliament.

Nadine Dorries quit hours earlier after being blocked for a peerage on Mr Johnson's resignation honours list. 

Former Cabinet minister Nigel Adams, who also missed out on a title, resigned on Saturday, setting up a nightmare triple by-election next month.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday yesterday, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warned Mr Sunak would face 'civil war' if he tried to block Mr Johnson from making a political comeback.

A former minister loyal to Mr Johnson yesterday told the Daily Mail two more MPs were on the brink of quitting. 'There is no co-ordinated plan, but people are very unhappy with the way Boris has been treated,' the source said.