Conservative Party rebels fear a confidence vote in Boris Johnson could be triggered “accidentally” as anger over Partygate builds, coming too quickly to oust the prime minister and leaving him in power for another 12 months.
Several Tory MPs opposed to Mr Johnson told The Independent they were worried that he would still have enough support to win a vote of confidence if the number of no-confidence letters sent to the 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady reached the threshold of 54 in the days ahead.
Some backbenchers are urging colleagues to be “patient” with letters, and to wait until the Metropolitan Police investigation concludes and the full Sue Gray report is revealed – predicting that to be the moment at which many wavering MPs will turn against him.
It comes as Mr Johnson attempted to convince doubtful MPs that a major shake-up would “strengthen” operations at No 10, as he announced the appointments of Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay as his new chief of staff and former City Hall spin doctor Guto Harri as new director of communications.
Culture secretary Nadine Dorries said only a “handful” of anti-Brexit Tories were plotting against Mr Johnson, claiming on Saturday that “around 97 per cent” of MPs were still behind the PM.