REPORTS suggest that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to resign and early reaction is rolling in with the party's North West chairman saying he is "deeply saddened" by this week's events.

Mr Johnson has survived a number of scandals in recent months from lockdown breaching parties in Downing Street to suggestions the Labour Party leader failed to act against Jimmy Saville during his time as a prosecutor.

The PM has seen dissent from within his own ranks in recent weeks with an increasing number of Conservative Party colleagues calling for him to resign.

READ MORE: Live updates as Prime Minister Boris Johnson 'set to resign'

But the pressure reached peak this week following revelations that Mr Johnson may have failed to act against Chris Pincher, the Tory Whip, despite being aware of sexual assault allegations.

After a deluge of resignation letters from cabinet MPs, ministers and Government aids, reports suggest that Mr Johnson has heeded calls to join them.

Later this morning, Boris Johnson is set to resign as Conservative Party leader, and Prime Minister.

Conservative Party chairman for the North West Chris Whiteside said: “I’m very saddened because Boris has a lot of important achievements to his credit but the handling of the Chris Pincher affair was the last straw for many people and I think it’s time for new leadership.”

READ MORE: Nadhim Zahawi calls for Boris Johnson to resign in damning public statement

The Cumbria County Council member for Egremont North and St Bees added that many Conservatives stayed loyal to Mr Johnson because “he got things done that nobody else could have achieved.”

He named breaking the deadlock on Brexit and support for industry during the pandemic amongst them.

“But the whole Chris Pincher affair, sending people out to say he’d never been briefed on it and there’d been no official complaint…

“It is now time to elect a new leader and move forward.”

READ MORE: Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid resign amid Chris Pincher row