Boris Johnson is once again facing pressure to resign, following the Conservatives’ crushing defeats in the Wakefield and Tiverton & Honiton by-elections. The Conservative Party Co-Chairman, Oliver Dowden, has resigned, saying “someone must take responsibility”. While he claimed this was him, many will conclude that that “someone” should have been the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister has said that he intends to "keep going" despite the defeats. However, former Tory leader Michael Howard is among those who’s called for his resignation. “I think the party, and even more importantly the country, would now be better off under new leadership,” he told Radio 4’s The World At One. Furthermore, he called on Cabinet ministers to remove Johnson from office. “[T]here are others who can take action who could make that course come about ... I think that action needs to be taken,” he said.