Tories in denial and suffering ‘Stockholm syndrome’ with Boris Johnson, says senior MP

‘We will lose the next election on current trajectory’, warns Tobias Ellwood

Conservative MPs are in denial about the losing the next general election and are stuck in “Stockholm syndrome” with Boris Johnson, a senior backbencher has warned.

Tobias Ellwood said Tories were in a “difficult place” as he urged colleagues to shake off any psychological dependence on their leader after Sue Gray’s Partygate report.

“The party is increasingly in a difficult place. This is going to be a testing summer, polling is now saying we could lose 90 seats,” Mr Ellwood, chair of the defence committee, told Sky News.