Sue Gray report: Wolverhampton Tory MP still '100 per cent' behind Boris Johnson

Stuart Anderson, who was elected in 2019 with a majority of less than 2,000, called for a change to the "historic culture" in Westminster but said he remained fully supportive of Boris Johnson.

The former soldier has been a vocal supporter of Mr Johnson since the party allegations were first made and is sticking with the Prime Minister as police investigate 12 events at properties linked to the Government in Downing Street and Whitehall.

The report found there was an "excessive consumption" of alcohol which was not appropriate in a professional workplace at any time and steps must be taken so a "robust policy" is in place.

The Wolverhampton South West MP, who said he was a teetotaller, told the Express & Star: "It (the report) highlights a lot of what we already knew, that the culture is around the whole of Westminster, really.

"There's a historic culture and I've seen that in every department in every area, there's a huge drinking culture. With what's happened in the whole of Downing Street, it's clear historic practices have carried on and this needs to be changed."

Mr Anderson added there needed to be change and said there was "too much onus" on one individual, highlighted in the report as an aide to the Prime Minister who had "too much responsibility and expectation".

And asked whether the Prime Minister was still fit for the job, the Conservative MP responded: "100 per cent. He always gets the big decisions right, like with the investment in Wolverhampton and up and down the country. He gets it right each time. He has been brilliant for Wolverhampton, which is now at the heart of levelling up, and so I'm fully behind the PM."

That was in contrast to Andrew Mitchell, the Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, who said Mr Johnson no longer had his support.

The former Cabinet minister said the Prime Minister had had his "full-throated support" ever since he first became a candidate for the party 30 years ago but said that he was "deeply concerned" by recent events.

The Prime Minister said Mr Mitchell was "mistaken in his views" and urged him to reconsider his opinion after "full consideration" of the report.

Michael Fabricant, Conservative MP for Lichfield, said the Prime Minister was "right" to apologise for the parties – as he backed calls for an office to oversee the work of the PM.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Fabricant said: "President (Harry S.) Truman had on his desk 'the buck stops here'. So the Prime Minister was right to apologise for the events that happened in No. 10 Downing Street.

"Two weeks ago I reminded Tom Harwood (from GB News) that Tony Blair suggested that there should be an office of prime minister, so that it could be governed not from 70 Whitehall but from the building itself.

"Can the Prime Minister tell me how he envisions the office will work? Will the permanent secretary be based in No. 10, controlling what civil servants do in No. 10?"

In response, Mr Johnson said he was "very grateful" for Mr Fabricant's support and made clear that No. 10 hosts more than 400 officials on a busy day – and that he will make sure there are "proper lines of authority" in place and a command structure.

Suzanne Webb, Conservative MP for Stourbridge, said opposition parties had spent "far too much" time – and parliamentary time – debating the issue as she backed Mr Johnson.

She said: "I can assure my right honourable friends that the residents of Stourbridge, they want the Prime Minister to focus on the matters that they really care about."

Meanwhile a Labour MP in the Black Country said that Conservatives have a "clear duty" to make sure Mr Johnson is replaced.

John Spellar said the long-anticipated report had shown there was "dysfunction" at Number 10 which comes from Boris Johnson himself.

The report said there were "failures of leadership and judgement" by different parts of Number 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times and some of the events "should not have been allowed to take place", while other events should not have been "allowed to develop" as they did.

Warley MP Mr Spellar said said the report – which is limited in its nature due to the ongoing Met Police investigation – made for "pretty grim reading".

Mr Spellar said: "It makes for pretty grim reading, and even though parts have been taken out, it's clear Number 10 and the Prime Minister's management of it is dysfunctional.

"There's not just an understandable public outrage at people breaking the rules that they have followed, when they were not able to see loved ones or comfort them if they were dying, but also it shows a real level of dysfunction which is why so many decisions are going wrong.

"There seems to be no grip and that comes back to Boris Johnson. So, these Tory MPs who said they were waiting to see Sue Gray's report have a clear message and duty: this Prime Minister has to go."

The report said some of the behaviour surrounding the gatherings was "difficult to justify" against the backdrop of the pandemic and restrictions being imposed.

It found there was a "serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of Government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time."

However Ms Gray, the civil servant author of the 12-page document, said limitations due to the ongoing police probe meant it was not yet possible to provide a "meaningful" report.