Conservative MP resigns from Home Office job over partygate and 'toxic culture' in Downing Street

• An MP quit his job in the Home Office over partygate, blaming the "toxic culture" in Number 10.
• Paul Holmes, personal private secretary to Home Secretary Priti Patel, revealed he had resigned Friday afternoon.

A Conservative MP quit his job in the Home Office over what he called the "toxic culture" at 10 Downing Street that underpinned the so-called partygate scandal, saying the distress it has caused his constituents "pains me personally."

Paul Holmes, the MP for Eastleigh and a personal private secretary to the Home Secretary Priti Patel, said in a statement on Friday that he had resigned.

He said he had "always been shocked and angered" by multiple parties and other gatherings held in Downing Street that were in breach of the COVID-19 rules, and highlighted more recent revelations, such as the poor treatment of cleaners and other support staff, that appeared in the civil servant Sue Gray's report.

"It is clear to me that a deep mistrust in both the Government and the Conservative Party has been created by these events, something that pains me personally as someone who always tries to represent Eastleigh and its people with integrity," Holmes said.

"It is distressing to me that this work on your behalf has been tarnished by the toxic culture that seemed to have permeated Number 10."

He added that the "distress" caused by partygate meant he wanted to "focus solely" on his work as a constituency MP.

"I am disappointed that all of this has taken a great deal of time away from the good work that Government has been doing and should be continuing to do, including dealing with the issue of the cost of living, focusing on our economic recovery and delivering for the people of Eastleigh and the wider country,' he said.

Holmes does not mention Boris Johnson personally, or whether he has submitted a letter of no confidence in the prime minister.

On Thursday, four Tory MPs revealed they had done so over the affair, increasing the likelihood of a vote in Johnson's leadership.

However, backbenchers believe the damage caused to the party is enough to mean theTories have "certainly lost" a future election.