Iain Watson
Political correspondent

The former minister Tim Laughton was one of the first to call for Boris Johnson to go - back in mid-January, arguing his position was "untenable".

He has always made it clear he'd prefer the PM to go of his own accord than face a confidence vote.

But there was a sense of exasperation in his pithy question a little earlier. He asked whether there was any issue over which the PM would resign.

With others asking the same question privately, a change in the Conservative leadership rules to allow a further confidence vote seems to be drawing closer.

Labour MP Andy Slaughter says that of the promised new 40 hospitals, the NHS Confederation says none of these will be built by 2024.

"Two of those 'new' hospitals, exist in my constituency, Hammersmith, opened in 1902, and Charing Cross, opened in 1818. They're not new hospitals, and there's no building going on," he says.

"They exist only in his warped imagination."

Boris Johnson says the government has managed to get 13,500 more police officers on the street, and the new hospitals will be built by 2030.

"We're putting the funding into our NHS," he adds.

Ione Wells
Westminster Correspondent, BBC News

The prime minister a little earlier jabbed his finger as he said he would continue because of his “mandate”. He was referring to the large majority he won in the 2019 election.

However, he has a new mandate to worry about - that of his own party. While he recently survived a vote of confidence from his backbench MPs, all eyes are on whether the 1922 committee of backbench MPs could change the rules to allow another one within a year.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

There were some well prepared lines delivered by Keir Starmer - referring to the cabinet has a "Z-list cast of nodding dogs" and asking if was the first case of "sinking ships fleeing the rat".

But he was arguably stronger in slowly recounting the changing government line on Chris Pincher in the recent days, and in quoting from an alleged victim of Pincher.

Johnson countered with the line that Starmer should hear what his own side are saying about him.

Indeed, there have been plenty of grumbles about the Labour leader - but his performance today elicited the most enthusiastic response from his own benches for some weeks.

That said, we still await the verdict of the Durham Police, with the possibility that Starmer will have to resign if fined.

But Johnson concluded with a message aimed more at his own side than at the opposition - that he intended to continue delivering in government.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton asks if there are any circumstances the prime minister should resign in.

In response, the PM says "clearly" if there was circumstances where he felt the government couldn't carry on with the mandate it's been given or would not be able to support Ukraine he would.

Johnson insists he has a "colossal majority" and he will keep going.

Johnson says, rather than writing his resignation letter, he was just jotting down some notes on Blackford's question about the economy.

"That is the issue the country faces," he says.

The government is helping families up and down the country with £1,200 right now, tax cuts for 30m and helping half a million people into work, he says, and that is the priority of his government.

"I'm glad he likes it," he says - in reference to Blackford.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford says it's easy to forget that only 10 days ago the PM was talking about a third term.

He says 10 days in politics seems like a lifetime.

He says it's a minor miracle Johnson has made it to PMQs, adding: "Prime minister it really is over."

He asks how many more ministers need to quit before Johnson picks up his pen and writes his own resignation letter.

It's exactly when times are tough and the country faces pressures on the economy - and biggest war in Europe for 80 years - that is the moment you expect a government to continue with its work and not walk away, says Johnson.

We're not only cutting taxes today, we're putting £1,200 into the pockets of the 8m most vulnerable households, he claims.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Starmer calls on those in government to have "some respect". He says for a week they have been defending Boris Johnson's decision to promote a "sexual predator" - referring to the appointment of Chris Pincher to the role of deputy chief whip.

Starmer points to a number of the PM's claims over the handling of the situation and says they have proven to be untrue.

He says anyone "with anything about them" would be long gone from Johnson's front bench.

Boris Johnson says Keir Starmer should "hear what his lot say about him".

He says Keir Starmer wanted to install Jeremy Corbyn in No 10.

"He voted 48 times to overturn the will of the British people," to overturn the referendum results, he states.

"He has voted time and time again against sanctions on criminals that would put them behind bars," he adds.

Starmer says it sums the PM up that he tolerated "awful behaviour, unacceptable in any walk of life".

The Labour leader derides those ministers resigning now after defending so much previously.

He asks: "Isn’t this the first recorded case of the sinking ships fleeing the rat?"

Ione Wells
Westminster Correspondent, BBC News

Today’s questions from Sir Keir Starmer are not just directed at the prime minister - but the whole front bench, arguing that anyone not quitting after defending behaviour “do not have integrity.”

There are stony faces on the government front benches. Some have their heads in their hands. The prime minister’s defences, when challenged on why he appointed Chris Pincher to government, are not receiving the usual cheers from his backbenches. Some of his own government ministers laughed when Sir Keir Starmer said the “sinking ship was fleeing the rat”. Others looked anywhere they could to avoid gazes from the opposite side.

Image source, .

The PM reiterates, "I regret very much that the member for Tamworth continued to hold office after the complaint was made against him in the Foreign Office."

"It was resolved in the Foreign Office," he says.

He says in hindsight he should have realised Pincher would not change but he acted immediately on the information he was given last Friday.

"We want to help people with the things that matter to them, like cutting their taxes," he says.

Starmer comes back to the issue of Chris Pincher.

He says when a young man complained about Pincher to a government whip she asked him if he was gay. When he said he was, she said that doesn't make it straight forward.

Starmer says this comment will sicken anyone who has been the victim of sexual assault.

He asks for Johnson to apologise.

Just as the prime minister got to his feet, yet another junior minister stepped down.

This time it was health minister Jo Churchill, who's the MP for Bury St Edmunds.

She says "the country and party deserve better".

Boris Johnson was asked yesterday by the BBC's Chris Mason if he had called Chris Pincher 'Pincher by name, Pincher by nature' - and he sidestepped the question.

Keir Starmer asks again and the question is avoided. It's an important question for Conservative MPs who are considering whether to resign as it would suggest that the PM was willing to have Pincher in government, despite concerns about his reputation.

Instead, the PM wants credit for withdrawing the whip from Pincher now.

Boris Johnson received cheers and some boos as he arrived in the Commons chamber for PMQs this lunchtime.

Some gaps could be seen on the Conservative benches as the weekly event got under way.

The new Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack were among Boris Johnson's allies on the front bench.

MPs laughed when Johnson started the session by saying: "This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I expect I shall have further such meetings later today".

Image source, .

Boris Johnson says he is "not going to trivialise what happened... because very serious complaints have been raised against [Chris Pincher]".

He says it is true that a complaint was raised and resolved while he was in the Foreign Office. He says the fact that Pincher continued in government is a matter of great regret for him.

Starmer asks the PM whether he described the former deputy chief whip as "Pincher by name, Pincher by nature". Yes or no?"

Ione Wells
Westminster Correspondent, BBC News

There’s silence in the commons as Keir Starmer reads a testimony about one of the allegations levelled at Pincher, which he has continued to deny.

Sir Keir Starmer’s message was clear - he directed it at the whole of the government’s front bench, accusing them of continuing to defend the prime minister for promoting Pincher, despite knowledge of complaints made against him.