Tories call for Boris Johnson to quit as MP to avoid Partygate inquiry

PM's allies brand investigation a witch-hunt' as others call for him to stand down to avoid further damage

Conservatives MPs want to do a deal with Boris Johnson for him to quit parliament and in return axe the inquiry into whether he misled them over Partygate, as allies of the prime minister branded it a witch-hunt".

Although he is due to leave No 10 in less than a month, a Commons privileges committee inquiry is still ongoing into the prime minister's initial denials in December last year that any Covid laws were broken during lockdown.