BoJo and Rishi’s Booze Shmooze of Tory Backbenchers at 1922 Committee Social

Britain's prime minister and his sidekick "Tonto" turned on the charm at a boozy bash for rebellious Tory MPs.

PM Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak turned up at Tuesday night's parliamentary social that was thrown by the 1922 Committee, a grouping of Conservative Party backbenchers — and both got up to speak.

Political hacks tweeting from the bash said the normally-boisterous BoJo was tight-lipped about whether the foot-soldiers would follow him into battle over a 1.25 percent hike in National Insurance contributions — the UK's social security tax — to pay for promised reforms to the elderly care system that currently sees many pensioners forced to spend their children's inheritance on nursing home fees.

Boris Johnson arriving for the 1922 drinks reception - stays silent when asked if he is confident he can sell the looming NICs rise

— Kate Ferguson (@kateferguson4) September 6, 2021

Boris Johnson has just arrived at a meeting of the 1922 committee in Westminster, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak already inside. The talk will no doubt be social care and whether the Gov can sell the reported plan to increase national insurance to pay for it.

— Kate Proctor (@Kate_M_Proctor) September 6, 2021

Johnson cracked a joke about a video that surfaced recently of Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove disco dancing after the easing of COVID-19 rules.

Boris Johnson makes a joke at Michael Gove’s clubbing antics at his speech to the 1922 tonight.

He tells his MPs:
“We opened up the nightclubs and then we sent our ministers out to enjoy them”

— Kate Ferguson (@kateferguson4) September 6, 2021

Sunak warned of a ""tough autumn" as the government rolls out more policies unpopular with their voter base. But he called for the Tory "team" to close ranks despite their disagreements.

Bit more from @RishiSunak to '22. 'It's fair to say we've got a tough autumn ahead. That doesn't mean there won't be disagreements, there always are, but we should never lost sight of central fact we're a team. Leading with our values & presenting united front to the country'

— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) September 6, 2021

Sunak also pledged loyalty to his boss Boris — even though there have not even been rumours of a leadership challenge through the 1922 Committee's mechanisms.

NEW: Rishi Sunak addresses 1922 committee

After reports of No. 10/No. 11 tension, he tells Tory MPs he ‘takes lead from the Prime Minister. The leader of our party and the country’

Says party owes him its loyalty

— Katy Balls (@katyballs) September 6, 2021

The latest YouGov poll gives the Tories a slim four-point lead over Sir Keir Starmer's Labour — albeit in the wake of the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan and with the coronavirus pandemic still affecting daily life.

Westminster voting intention:

CON: 38% (-1)
LAB: 34% (+3)
GRN: 10% (+1)
LDEM: 8% (-)

via @YouGov
Chgs. w/ 26 Aug

— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) September 6, 2021