Jacob Rees-Mogg has said there should be a general election if Boris Johnson is ousted as Prime Minister over the partygate scandal.

       Dark clouds have refused to be blown from Westminster, and on Tuesday the inquiry into alleged Downing Street parties ramped up as Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick announced her force were finally looking into the gatherings.

       With MPs and the public waiting for the Sue Gray report - which has been finished but not delivered to No. 10 - there is still cross-party pressure on Mr Johnson to resign.

       If the Prime Minister is pushed from his position, the Leader of the House of Commons Mr Rees-Mogg believes it should trigger a general election.

       He told the BBC's Newsnight: "It is my view that we have moved to an essentially presidential system, and that therefore the mandate is personal rather than entirely party, and that any prime minister would be very well advised to seek a fresh mandate.

       "Gordon Brown didn't and that didn't work. Boris Johnson did and that did work.

       "I think the days of (Harold) McMillan taking over from (Sir Anthony) Eden or even (James) Callaghan from (Harold) Wilson no longer get the mood of the constitution and our constitution has evolved.

       "So my view is to change leader requires a general election."

       Asked about Mr Rees-Mogg's views, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss - who is seen by many as a potential leadership candidate if her boss gets the axe - dismissed the idea of a general election.

       She said: "That is complete hypothetical speculation.

       "I believe the Prime Minister should continue in office, I think he's doing a great job.

       "He's apologised and he's admitted that mistakes were made."

       Asked if she wants to one day lead the Conservative party, she said: "I want the Prime Minister to continue in his job, I support him 100 percent."