GET A GRIP! SAVE THE ECONOMY

As row over Boris's Partygate rumbles on, MPs told to stop infighting and focus on huge rise in inflation and mortgage costs

- David Williamson and Jonathan Walker

LEADING Tories have urged MPs to put the Boris Johnson "psychodrama" behind them and focus on rescuing the inflation-wracked economy.

Britons are braced for a further rise in interest rates this week, threatening to push mortgage rates even higher as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

But while many average Britons are being "kept awake at night" worrying about bills, the Conservative Party was accused by one its own MPs of "self-indulgent politicking".

The party will face further turmoil tomorrow when MPs debate the scathing Privileges Committee report, which concluded former prime minister Mr Johnson would face a 90-day suspension if he was still an MP.

A senior Tory MP warned the party faces "mutually assured destruction" if the in-fighting does not stop.

A minister said: "People out there are sick of the Conservative Party psychodrama. They're worried about their mortgage and rent costs, the price of food and essentials, and what the future will be like for their kids.

"We need to come together now and put all our efforts into strengthening the economy and giving people hope for the future."

Exclusive Omnisis polling for the Sunday Express shows just 24 per cent of people want Mr Johnson to return to politics, with nearly two thirds (64 per cent) saying he should not.

However, half of likely Tory voters would welcome a return by the now-former MP to the political fray.

Tensions flared between Mr Johnson and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over who would be included in his resignation honours list. Mr Johnson reportedly pushed for his father, Stanley, to be given a knighthood but he did not make the final list.

The polling shows that just nine per cent of people think his father should have been knighted, with 71 per cent saying he should not receive this honour.