Sir Robert Buckland has called on Boris Johnson and the government to get its house in order after two thumping by-election defeats.

Last night the consistency of Wakefield went back to Labour, nearly three years after the Conservatives had taken the seat in the 2019 general election.

The Tories then lost the previously safe seat of Tiverton and Honiton to the Liberal Democrats as voters delivered a message to the Prime Minister.

Party chairman Oliver Dowden resigned from his position this morning, making him the first cabinet member of Mr Johnson's government to do so.

Speaking on Sky News this morning, South Swindon MP Sir Robert said: “We’ve got to take in the enormity of these results, they are the product of a double whammy.

“This requires action and the Conservative Party, the party in government still has the answers that the country needs.

“We think the next election can be won, but if the response to last night is business as usual then that would be a mistake and clearly, the time for action is now.”

The former Justice Secretary said it was unfair the party itself to be blamed for the election defeats.

“I'm very sorry to see Oliver go,” he said.

“I don’t think this should be blamed on the party organisation, this is about events and the public who came out to vote in these seats and registered their deep concerns and that has to be listened to.”

Mr Buckland blamed the government for a lack of focus but held back on saying Boris Johnson should be removed from office.

The South Swindon MP added: “Politics is more than about one person, I know this Prime Minister and his character, but the Conservative Party is more than about one man, it’s about a collective sense of responsibility by all of us who are in public service.

“I hesitate to say that removing a Prime Minister is job done, that’s why many colleagues didn’t vote against the Prime Minister a couple of weeks ago because we see a bigger picture.”