WARNING: GET RID OF PM AND ALL HIS GOOD WORK WILL BE UNDONE

TORY MPs have been warned they risk undoing Brexit and putting the country in perpetual lockdowns if they try to oust “Conservative hero” Boris Johnson.

- David Maddox

With the Prime Minister’s fate in the balance as civil servant Sue Gray prepares to publish her report into the lockdown-breaking Downing Street parties, Mr Johnson yesterday picked up the phone and went on a charm offensive with unhappy backbenchers.

The Sunday Express understands he mainly targeted members of the 2019 intake of MPs who were “wavering” over whether to continue to support him.

He has also been boosted in a Sunday Express poll today which shows 54 per cent think he made the right call to reject the advice of scientists and not impose greater Covid restrictions over Christmas.

Mr Johnson’s message to wavering Tory MPs has been repeated by two of his Cabinet ministers in today’s Sunday Express.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said the Prime Minister is a “Conservative hero” who has made all the right calls on Covid during the pandemic.

“In my former role as Vaccines Minister, I worked closely with the PM as we used evidence, expertise, passion and commitment to deliver a world-leading vaccine programme.

“He backed me completely as I threw the kitchen sink at making sure that schools reopened after the Christmas break.”

He warned: “If Labour were in power, there is every chance that we would still be in a national lockdown.

“Keir Starmer has called for further restrictions at every step of the way, while offering no answers or solutions. But in Boris, we have a Prime Minister who has been willing to make the tough calls, and they’ve paid off.”