A Kent MP says he would be prepared to back party rule changes that would permit a second vote of confidence in the Prime Minister amid the deepening scandal involving the former deputy chief whip.

The North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale has called on his party to take action against Boris Johnson after it transpired he knew about complaints made regarding Chris Pincher's conduct before appointing him to the role.

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In an interview, the long-standing critic of the PM said: “He has for three days now been sending ministers - in one case a cabinet minister - out to defend the indefensible, effectively to lie on his behalf. That cannot be allowed to continue.

"This prime minister has trashed the reputation of a proud and honourable party for honesty and decency and that is not acceptable. It is so blatant a lie it has to be acted upon as swiftly as possible by my party.”

The decision to suspend Mr Pincher came after he was accused of trying to grope two men at London's Carlton Club, a favourite of Tory politicians.

The allegations were reported in The Sun the following day by which point Mr Pincher had resigned from his role as deputy chief whip saying he "drunk too much".

It is alleged he had to be bundled into a taxi at 1am and couldn't remember his address.

After his resignation Mr Johnson said he "considered the matter closed" before an official complaint resulted in Mr Pincher being suspended.

The scandal has deepened after it emerged the Prime Minister had been briefed about the allegations and others before appointing him to the whip’s office.

Downing Street had said Mr Johnson was not aware of any "specific allegations" against Mr Pincher when, in February, he appointed him.

They are yet to clarify what "specific" means and have accepted he was aware of news reports and allegations which were “either resolved or did not proceed to a formal complaint”.

Simon McDonald, the former top civil servant in the Foreign Office has said the PM had been briefed about an inquiry into Mr Pincher, then a Foreign Office minister.

Various people have accused No. 10 of not telling the truth regarding the Pincher allegations and it emerged earlier this week that Mr Johnson's wife, Carrie, advised against Mr Pincher's appointment.