Boris Johnson: ‘Never underestimate’ PM says James McGrath

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Amid the backlash over the alleged gathering, Prof Sir John claimed the Tories are “in deep trouble”. Indeed, Prof Sir John likened the current status of the Prime Minister to Sir John Major in the 1990s, who lost several MPs amid the Tory sleaze scandal and eventually resigned after the 1997 election. While Mr Johnson has insisted he did not break any rules last year, Prof Sir John claimed the rumours surrounding the multiple gathering has done damage to the party’s standing.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Prof Sir John said: “The stories have done serious damage.

“We’ve got seven companies, who have polled since last week, and they show falls in Conservative support between 4-6 points.

“On average the Tory vote is down by 13 points from the general election.

“The Tories are in deep trouble.

“It is not as bad as John Major but it’s moved very rapidly in that direction.”

There have been reports of several gatherings which took place between November 13 and December 18.

Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, will now investigate four gatherings that are alleged to have occurred last year.

Mr Case will now look into two gatherings in Downing Street on December 15 and 18.

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He will also investigate another incident at the Department for Education on December 10 and another at Downing Street on November 27.

At the time of the November gathering, the country was still in lockdown and indoor gatherings were not allowed.

In December, London was under Tier 2 restrictions which banned the mixing of households. 

On Tuesday, the Daily Mirror published a picture which showed the Conservative mayoral candidate, Shaun Bailey, at a party held at Conservative headquarters.

Although Mr Bailey is believed to have left shortly after the picture, four staff members have now been disciplined by the party.

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Mr Bailey has now resigned as chait of the police and crime committee in the London Assembly.

A spokesman for the party said: “Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of [CCHQ] organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14th December.

“Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.”

Although the Prime Minister has denied breaking any rules, he has now plummeted in the polls.

A YouGov poll released on December 10, commissioned by The Times, found the Labour party had increased to 40 percent in its voting intention tracker.

That is a three percent increase on the survey conducted between December 8-9 which saw the Tories drop one percent to 32.

In an Ipsos Mori poll, which rated satisfaction ratings for Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Johnson, Labour is now 13 percent ahead.

According to the data from 1,005 adults, Sir Keir now stands on 44 per cent while Mr Johnson is now on 31.

The pair had been equal on 38 percent in September.

The Ipsos MORI poll was conducted between December 3-10.

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