Rebels Andrew Bridgen and Sir Roger Gale, who have both submitted no confidence letters, also voiced fresh doubts about whether Mr Johnson’s Commons apology would wash with their constituents. 

However, loyalists said the Prime Minister had successfully turned the page on the partygate row after his gruelling two-hour scrutiny session in the House and appeal to colleagues at the 1922 committee.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Commons Leader, said the “mood was positive” among Conservatives following the evening meeting on the Parliamentary estate.

He added: “So many people voted personally for Boris Johnson rather than voting for political parties. Politicians have to accept that our bosses are the British people, and they voted for that, they put him in office.”

Nadine Dorries, the Culture Secretary and an ally of Mr Johnson, told BBC Radio 4: “Of course he’s sorry – you can feel the remorse and upset and empathy with how people feel. But we do have to get on with the job – the country can’t just stop running.”

Julian Sturdy, the MP for York Outer who supported Mr Johnson’s leadership campaign in 2019, said the limited findings published by Sue Gray “confirm repeated failures in judgement and leadership”.

In a statement, Mr Sturdy said: “The public deserve to be able to read Sue Gray’s report in full so any proposals for reform can be assessed appropriately.

“I am therefore deeply concerned by the current lack of commitment to allow the full report to be published once the Metropolitan Police investigation has concluded. There is no justification for the Government to airbrush Sue Gray’s findings, no matter how damning they may be.”