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Boris Johnson will face a Conservative rebellion over coronavirus restrictions next week, as a “sulphurous” mood sweeps through Tory ranks over the UK prime minister’s leadership.
Johnson is braced for a torrid seven days, with party unrest playing out ahead of a problematic parliamentary by-election in North Shropshire, where the Liberal Democrats hope to overturn a 23,000 Tory majority.
The prime minister has infuriated Conservative MPs with his handling of a row over Christmas parties in Downing Street last year when London was under stringent pandemic restrictions.
ITV News reported yesterday that Jack Doyle, Johnson’s communications director, was present at an event attending by Downing Street staff on December 18. In total, three government parties are being investigated by the UK’s top civil servant.
Some Tory…