MP Anne Marie Morris has described No 10’s admission of breaching Covid-19 rules at a party held during the height of the pandemic as ’frankly insulting’ to those who stuck to the law.

In response to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s confession that he did join colleagues for drinks in the garden of Downing Street on May 20, Mrs Morris said she wanted to put her position ’on record’.

She revealed she had become ’increasingly concerned’ with some of the directions being taken by the Government.

And she further revealed she had sent a letter of no confidence to the chairman of the influential 1922 committee, Sir Graham Brady.

Mrs Morris, MP for Newton Abbot, said: ’Given my increasing displeasure with the ongoing events in the latter part of 2021, I submitted a letter of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady before Christmas.

’Now that I have had the Conservative whip removed, due to a completely unrelated vote on energy bill VAT, my letter no longer counts towards the total amount of letters.

’Fundamentally, the country needs strong leadership and a clear direction to get back on its feet post-pandemic and take advantage of the opportunities to create a more prosperous society.

’We need truth and honesty and for those who have broken the rules to be held accountable.’

Mr Johnson admitted at Prime Minister’s Questions that he had been at the party for 25 minutes to thank staff for their hard work but believed ’implicitly’ that it had been a work event.

Mrs Morris said towards the end of 2021, she had become concerned with some of the directions being taken, especially over the Government’s Covid-19 policy.

She said: ’In addition, as I have previously publicly stated, the fact that there may have been social events held in No.10 in breach of the rules that they themselves imposed is frankly insulting to those who did what they were told.

’While I am pleased that the events are now being investigated by the Cabinet Office, given the most recent disclosures, it is imperative that the investigation must proceed at pace and the issues resolved.

’It appears now that there is clear evidence that a breach of the rules took place and the appropriate consequences for those involved, whatever position they hold, such be substantial.

’Government should be setting an example, not breaking the rules they imposed on society.

’These ongoing revelations help nobody and fundamentally get in the way of exercising good government.’

The 1922 committee’s 18-strong executive and its chairman oversee the election of party leaders or any Conservative-led vote of no confidence in a current leader.

Such a vote can be triggered by 15 per cent of Conservative MPs.