Tory MP reveals Boris Johnson’s ‘insulting’ response in private to Chris Pincher groping claims

A Conservative MP has revealed details of a private conversation involving Boris Johnson that has left the prime minister facing even more accusations that he consistently fails to take allegations of predatory sexual behaviour seriously.

Johnson is under growing pressure to quit following a slew of resignations over his handling of the scandal involving Chris Pincher, who resigned this week amid claims he groped two men while he was drunk at London's Carlton Club.

During an incendiary prime minister's questions (PMQs) in which multiple Tory MPs called for the PM to stand down, Gary Sambrook – the MP for Birmingham Northfield – recounted details of a conversation with Johnson about the alleged incident.

Sambrook told the House of Commons: "Yesterday, in an attempt to boost morale in the tearoom the prime minister said at a table that there were seven MPs in the Carlton Club last week and that one of them should have tried to intervene to stop Chris from drinking so much.

"As if that wasn't insulting enough to the people who did try to intervene that night, and then also to the victims that drink was the problem.

"Isn't it the example that, if the prime minister constantly tries to deflect from the issue and always tries to blame other people for mistakes, that leaves nothing left for him to do but to take responsibility and resign."

A No 10 spokesperson refused to deny that the conversation in the tearoom had taken place.

His speech was immediately met with applause from the opposition benches, which was immediately shot down by Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Johnson replied: “There is a very simple reason why they want me out, and that is because they know that otherwise we are going to get on and deliver our mandate and win another general election.”

On Tuesday, Johnson was forced to issue a grovelling public apology as he admitted he did know about allegations of sexual misconduct against Pincher and that he regretted hiring him as his deputy chief whip.

It followed days of denials from No 10 that the prime minister was aware of specific complaints against the deputy chief whip who Johnson promoted in February.

Johnson did not deny referring to the accused MP as "Pincher by name, Pincher by nature" in response to an allegation by his former chief adviser Dominic Cummings.

Watch: Johnson - hang on in there, that's what I'm going to do

The prime minister is now battling to remain in his position after facing over a dozen Tories resign from government in the space of 24 hours.

The PM is seeing his authority disintegrate after he was accused of lying to cover up his knowledge of allegations of sexual misconduct against deputy chief whip Chris Pincher before handing him a government job.

Among them were Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak who both quit as ministers in a devastating blow to Johnson.

Both Sunak and Javid alluded to Johnson's own conduct in their letters.

Sunak suggested the government was not being “conducted properly, competently and seriously”, as he told Johnson that “our approaches are fundamentally too different”.

Javid said his decision came on the basis of his conviction that “the country needs a strong and principled Conservative Party", which Johnson was not able to offer.

Then Javid, making a resignation statement in the Commons after PMQs on Wednesday, told MPs: “Treading the tightrope between loyalty and integrity has become impossible in recent months. I will never risk losing my integrity.”

He said “the problem starts at the top and I believe that is not going to change”.

In a message to cabinet ministers who decided not to quit, he said: “Not doing something is an active decision.

“I’m deeply concerned about how the next generation will see the Conservative Party on our current course.

“It is incumbent on all of us to set high standards for ourselves and to take action when they are not met by others.”

Communities secretary Gove, who has not resigned, was reported by the Daily Mail to have told Johnson that he should go.