The Conservative party chair says the disastrous by-election defeat in North Shropshire shows the public is “fed up” with the government – but he insisted Boris Johnson is still a vote-winner.

       Oliver Dowden admitted his party had been given “a kicking”, but argued the Tories have recovered before from mid-term by-election thumpings, saying: “It happens time and time again.”

       On Mr Johnson – blamed by Tory MPs for a self-inflicted blunders over sleaze and lockdown-busting parties – Mr Dowden insisted: “I think the prime minister is an electoral asset for the Conservative party.

       “On the big calls, the prime minister has the vision and the direction to get us through this difficult period,” he told Sky News.

       He pointed to the fast-expanding booster jab campaign and falling unemployment, but admitted he had “no idea” whether Tory MPs are sending in letters to try to trigger a no-confidence vote in Mr Johnson.

       Recommended AP News Digest 3 am How do Covid restrictions compare across the UK? Boris Johnson warned ‘one more strike and he’s out’ as Lib Dems win Tory seat – live

       In a later interview, on BBC Breakfast, Mr Dowden dismissed much of the criticism of the government as “noises off and distractions”.

       The dramatic result – the Lib Dems overturned a majority of 22,949 in North Shropshire, the biggest by-election swing since 1993 – triggered immediate recriminations on the Tory benches.

       Roger Gale, a longstanding Johnson critic, said the result must “be seen as a referendum on the prime minister’s performance”, pointing to other recent blows to his authority.

       “The prime minister is now in last orders time,” he said, adding: “One more strike and he’s out.”

       On the right of the party, the former cabinet minister John Redwood said it was time to listen to Conservatives”, tweeting: “Will the chancellor now admit his high tax economic slowdown is wrong?”

       But Charles Walker, a former vice-chair of the 1922 backbench committee of Tory MPs, warned a leadership challenge now would be “completely self-indulgent”.

       “The Conservative party is not going to have a leadership challenge as we are heading into potential further restrictions around Covid,” he insisted.

       Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, hailed the result, a victory by 5,925 votes, as evidence that Mr Johnson is now “losing the support of lifelong Conservatives”.

       He pointed to his “shocking Pepper Pig speech and ‘partygate’ where they’ve broken the rules” as reasons for voters switching sides.

       “They were telling me that they don’t think Boris Johnson is a decent person, not a decent person to lead our country,” Sir Ed said.

       Recommended Newly-elected MP attacks PM’s ‘lies’ and promises to work for ‘you and only you’ Inside North Shropshire by-election count that saw historic Tory loss Boris Johnson facing huge pressure after loss of ultra-safe North Shropshire

       “And, frankly I think the people of North Shropshire have sent in a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson to the Conservative’s 1922 Committee.”

       The support of 15 per cent of Conservative MPs is needed to trigger a no-confidence vote, meaning 55 must submit letters to backbench steward Graham Brady.