With the recent Owen Paterson sleaze scandal still reverberating, Boris Johnson has found himself facing a fresh barrage of criticism, this time over the No 10 lockdown-breaching Christmas party scandal last year and reignited controversy over the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.

As embattled Boris Johnson fends off criticism on all fronts amid the No 10 Christmas party scandal and new damning details suggesting he misled his standards adviser over funding for refurbishment of the Downing Street flat, Tory leadership contenders are starting to circle, reported the i.

There are “conversations forming” behind the scenes aimed at replacing Johnson in the event that the UK Prime Minister’s position becomes dangerously untenable, Tory backbencher sources are cited as saying.