A CONSERVATIVE councillor says Prime Minister Boris Johnson should resign if a report found he broke Government lockdown rules.

Mr Johnson has faced criticism after 16 events took place over a number of dates between May 2020 and April 2021.

In senior civil servant Sue Gray’s report, she said several gatherings “should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did” and she found “failures of leadership and judgment” in Downing Street.

Lexden and Braiswick councillor Lewis Barber now says the Prime Minister should resign if the report found him to have broken the rules.

He said: “I share that same anger as do many with the actions of those who appear to have repeatedly broken the law in parties during the height of lockdown and at other points during restrictions.

“The fact there are now criminal investigations is a damning reflection of the culture in parts of Government that existed during a period of national trauma and sacrifice.

“The same principle applies now.

"I do believe those who are found in the Sue Gray report to have broken the rules that we dutifully followed will be in an untenable position and should resign.”

It comes after Colchester's MP says he welcomes Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s apology after the publication of a report on Downing Street lockdown parties.

Mr Quince told the Gazette: “People across the UK made extraordinary sacrifices throughout the pandemic to protect the NHS, the people closest to them, and our wider communities.

“Sue Gray has published an update on her report, which makes clear that standards in Number 10 were not as they should have been during the pandemic.

“Rightly, the PM made a statement to Parliament this week where he took responsibility for what had happened, again offered a full and frank apology and set out a clear plan for changes to the inner-functioning of 10 Downing Street.

“I welcome these steps and believe constituents want me to continue my focus on my job as Member of Parliament for Colchester and Minister for Children and Families.”