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Mr Johnson said it was “demonstrably untrue” Partygate claims had damaged Britain’s international standing. Tories also rallied to his defence over Sir John’s “bitter” attack. They said Sir John, 78, whose own government was rocked by sleaze claims, was “discredited” in the eyes of many Tory voters.

Foreign Office minister Lord Goldsmith called him a “stale old corporatist” who delivered seven years of “autopilot government” from 1990 to 1997 and “a thumping defeat at the polls”.

And he said the arch-Remainer still struggled to accept Britain’s decision to leave the EU.

Tory MP Michael Fabricant said of Sir John: “While not suffering from long Covid, he is clearly suffering from long Brexit.

“Doctors tell me that one of the side-effects is bitterness.”

Sir John’s attack came in a speech at the Institute for Government in London. He said Mr Johnson must go if he had deliberately misled Parliament.

He said: “At No10, the Prime Minister and officials broke lockdown laws.

“Brazen excuses were dreamed up. Day after day, the public was asked to believe the unbelievable.

“Ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible – making themselves look gullible or foolish.

“Collectively, this has made the Government look distinctly shifty, which has consequences that go far beyond political unpopularity.

“No government can function properly if its every word is treated with suspicion.”

Sir John added that even “a casual glance at overseas comment shows our reputation is being shredded” and warned Britain risked losing friends and allies.

Tory MP Tom Hunt said: “It’s a shame that since Brexit and his refusal to accept the [EU] referendum result, Sir John has become discredited in the eyes of many Conservative voters and members.

“His dislike of the Prime Minister has been consistent and long lasting. I personally find his comments over the top and overly dramatic.”

Lord Moylon added: “Sir John Major leaves us in little doubt that there is a plot to reverse Brexit – and undermining and removing Boris Johnson is key to that.”

Brexiteer MP Andrew Bridgen, who has called for Mr Johnson to quit over Partygate claims, said:

 “Unfortunately it will have to be Brexiteers that remove the Prime Minister, because as soon as an ardent Remainer like John Major says anything, it is just going to be dismissed as a Remainer plot.”

A casual glance at overseas comment shows our reputation is being shredded

During a visit to Poland yesterday, Mr Johnson said Sir John’s claim over Britain’s “shredded” international reputation claim was “demonstrably untrue”.

But he refused to be drawn over whether he had received a Scotland Yard legal questionnaire being sent to around 50 people in No10 and Whitehall about what went on during the Covid lockdown.

He said: “You will hear all in due time on that matter. I will have more to say on all that when the process is complete.”

Mr Johnson also refused to say whether he would resign if he was fined for breaching Covid curbs.

He said: “That process must be completed and I’m looking forward to it being completed”.

Officers working on Operation Hillman, the Metropolitan Police investigation into Partygate, are examining more than 500 docuthe ments and 300 images provided by the Cabinet Office. Outgoing Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick suggested yesterday that some of those being contacted by officers would end up with fines.

She refused to say if police officers working at Downing Street knew about alleged parties.

But she told BBC Radio London: I would say one thing to you, which is that my officers are there primarily, with firearms, to keep people safe from terrorists, from armed attackers and the like.

“That is their primary job. I do not ask them, and I’m not going to start asking them, to patrol the corridors of Whitehall looking for, you know, what might be going on in offices. That is not appropriate. We don’t do it in any other environment.”

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi admitted people were “rightly angry” about the lockdown-breaking claims, adding: “There is no doubt the stories around parties have cut through.

“People were rightly angry to see that those who were making the rules have allegations put against them that they’re not obeying the rules.”

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