Partygate: Now Johnson must face Commons

BORIS Johnson faces a fraught week as he returns to Parliament after the Easter recess to confront growing discontent among MPs.

After being fined by the police for attending an impromptu celebration for his birthday in No 10 during lockdown, he is preparing to apologise to the Commons.

The Prime Minister will seek to ‘set the record straight’ on Partygate and address claims he that misled MPs, with more than a dozen Tories publicly questioning his future.

Many of Mr Johnson’s toughest critics have said ousting him amid the Ukraine crisis would be a mistake – but dissenting voices are emerging. They include Lord Wolfson, who quit as a justice minister over the scandal, former Cabinet minister Karen Bradley and senior Tory Tobias Ellwood – suggesting Mr Johnson could face a tricky period in Westminster next week.