The No10 party situation is now an embarrassment to me and many of my colleagues. When you think “that’s it”, there is more, and more. 

This is now becoming a matter where the integrity of all of Westminster is being questioned, as well as that of the Downing Street party animals.

Between 6pm on Friday and 9am on Saturday, 106 emails crashed into my inbox about this. Not from “frequent-flying” regular political opponents, but heartfelt feelings of sadness and distrust from decent and good people who tell me that enough is enough.

West Dorset is my home. I was born and brought up here and have lived here most of my life. I know that I was elected not just because of the manifesto, but because local people trust me and by default, our Prime Minister and Government.

I also know that, regardless of political view, the most important thing is trust in the Prime Minister, whether or not we agree on policy or principle.

That trust means that the law doesn’t stop at the garden wall of No10 and if some advisors didn’t think some of these rules were necessary, they should not have endorsed their imposition.

‘It just cannot go on’

But what is making this so bad, is that when you think that’s it, there is more, and more, and more. It just cannot go on.

Decent, ordinary, law abiding citizens who have had patience and a degree of understanding so far, are now putting this in context of their own experiences.

In nearby Yeovil at the beginning of the lockdown, the crematorium would turn away mourning family members at the gate.

The appalling decision of the Archbishop of Canterbury meant that funerals were not allowed in our village churches (when they could have been).

My constituents looked on, hearts outpouring as Queen Elizabeth sat on her own at her husband’s funeral whilst recalling their own experiences.

Those included also sitting alone at a funeral; being unable to be at the bedside of a dying loved one; or, as in many cases here, being unable to say farewell at all because of the disgrace of so-called ‘direct cremation’ – at which attendees were not allowed – imposed by South Somerset District Council (this, of course, was not Boris’ fault).

‘The ultimate embarrassment’

To hear on the news that Downing Street has had to apologise to Her Majesty because of a party the night before Prince Philip’s funeral is however, the ultimate embarrassment.

The backbenches have broadly three groups at the moment. Those who are joyous of these developments because they’ve hated Boris for a long time.

Those who are absolute die-hard supporters, whatever development is uncovered. 

And those of us, including me, who fundamentally want Boris to be successful, who believe in him, but are deeply saddened and embarrassed by these continual revelations – and, as a result, are coming to the realisation that this situation is now badly affecting the Conservative Party’s prospects of achieving our full potential – on top of what has been a stonking record of success so far with delivering Brexit, levelling-up, and the vaccination programme.

Making rash decisions and assumptions without having the full facts to hand, even though there’s a media storm, is not my style.

I am clear that the apology made by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons last week was not enough.

I have told my Government whip on Friday, that an investigation with no timeline is not on and we want the “Gray Report” for scrutiny in the House of Commons urgently. 

But my mission and that of my colleagues, is now to make sure that decency and honour and trust are restored at the heart of our Government.

That is why, once this report is available, we will consider the full facts and actions needed.

Chris Loder is MP for West Dorset