Joy Morrissey showed support to former boss Boris Johnson at his book launch event this week after being one of just seven Tory MPs to back him after the Partygate scandal.

You might think the MP for Beaconsfield had bigger fish to fry than sounding her support for the disgraced ex-Prime Minister – a certain film studio and her fight against Labour’s policies on VAT and winter fuel payments, to name a few.

But, for old time’s sake, Ms Morrissey stopped by the book launch party for Boris Johnson’s hot topic memoir Unleashed at the Institute for Directors on Pall Mall on Tuesday – and shared snaps cosying up to the man who made her Parliamentary Private Secretary in 2022, towards the end of his three years in Downing Street.

While she didn’t share her opinion on the book, which has made headlines since its serialisation in the Daily Mail at the beginning of the month, her smile in the launch event photos and record of support for Johnson over the years might give you some idea where her feelings lie.

The MP, who was one of just a handful of Conservative candidates to hold onto their seats in this year’s general election, was one of seven Tory members to vote against a report that said Johnson had deliberately misled parliament over Partygate in June 2023.

The Privileges Committee found that the ex-PM had knowingly lied to the House of Commons over alleged breaches of lockdown rules in Westminster, including during the infamous rule-breaking parties that came to define politician's short stint in power. 

The House voted overwhelmingly to back the report, which also recommended a 90-day suspension for Johnson, one week after he resigned as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Speaking at the time, Ms Morrissey described it as “deeply flawed” and a risk to “the rights of parliamentarians”, setting precedents that would “last long and reach deep”.