‘He’s still deep in the woods’ – as problems mount, MPs believe Boris Johnson’s premiership remains in great peril

With the prospect of more Partygate fines and a spiralling cost-of-living crisis, many on his own side are playing a waiting game

It wasn't as if things had been going brilliantly for Boris Johnson as he attempted to spend some precious downtime last week at Chequers, a bubble of countryside tranquillity away from the escalating cost of living crisis and political woes that had punctuated his year.

Already by Tuesday morning, one MP had been expelled from the party after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. Another had caused outrage for issuing a statement supporting his former colleague - all just weeks before looming local elections.