A Conservative councillor whose brother died after catching coronavirus says she believes Boris Johnson has "probably gone too far this time" with the 'Partygate' scandal.

Julia Bishop is one of the Conservative councillors who spoke to the Financial Times after the prime minister apologised for attending a "bring your own booze" Downing Street garden party on May 20 2020.

Another Conservative councillor, Bazil Solomon, who defected from the Labour party in January 2020, came out and told the FT that Mr Johnson "is going to be replaced".

Keith Barnard, the brother of former Highworth mayor Coun Bishop, died on November 5 2020 aged 79 after catching coronavirus when the UK was in lockdown.

He had no underlying health conditions and Coun Bishop spoke to The Adver at the time about how devastated the family were.

She told the FT that the PM had given "silly excuses" because he'd been caught out.

She added: “He seems a stranger to the truth at times.

"At PMQs people were laughing at the ludicrousness of his excuses."

She added: “Millions of people have similar stories [to mine].”

Keith's funeral had to be restricted because of the Covid rules back in November 2020.

Coun Bishop told The Adver: “We don’t know how it would have been picked up because he was very strict about the safety guidance when we saw him and we all stuck to the rules.

It’s absolutely devastated the whole family because we’re so close-knit and Keith was a massive part of our lives, he was amazing.

“It’s a terrible, horrendous thing. You hear about people saying they wouldn’t take the vaccine but please do take it if you get the chance, to save you or someone you know going through this grief."

Bazil Solomon, councillor for Liden, Eldene and Park South ward, condemned the alleged parties held at Downing Street during Covid restrictions as "horrible" and is waiting on the results of the inquiry into the multiple alleged Covid breaches led by Sue Gray.

He told the FT: “When the report becomes available on what took place, those who significantly broke the Covid-19 rules . . . should reconsider their jobs".

“[Mr Johnson] is going to be replaced . . . at the end of the day you can only apologise so much.”

David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said it was too early to tell what the impact of the scandal would be on the upcoming local elections in May.

He told Jim Pickard at the FT: “I hope when people vote in these elections they will be thinking about what the party has done for them locally.”