Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross has been accused of having the “backbone of a jellyfish” after u-turning on calls for Boris Johnson to quit.
He said Russia’s actions in Ukraine meant that now is “not the time” to be calling for resignations over partygate.
It also came after the Scottish Tories confirmed the Prime Minister will attend their party conference in Aberdeen later this month.
Ross and most of his colleagues at Holyrood demanded Johnson’s resignation in January after stories emerged of Downing Street parties during lockdown.
He said at the time: “I am in the position now where I don’t think he can continue as leader of the Conservatives.”
“I spoke to the Prime Minister this afternoon, and I set out my reasons.”
“I know from speaking to colleagues in the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament that there is significant unrest and concern about the actions that took place in Downing Street.”
However, the war in Europe, which is regarded as the continent’s most dangerous moment for decades, has triggered a rethink.
Ross said: “The middle of an international crisis is not the time to be discussing resignations, unless it’s the removal from office of Vladimir Putin.
“There will be a time and place to debate partygate but, as even Keir Starmer said at the weekend, we should put that on pause while there is war in Europe.
“It’s essential that we all fully support what the UK Government is doing. In light of Russia’s appalling actions, the government and Prime Minister need our backing, and they have mine and the whole Scottish Conservative party.
“We should all be focused on what we can do to help the Ukrainian people in any capacity.”
His initial call angered senior Tory figures like Cabinet Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, who dismissed Ross as a “lightweight”.
Johnson’s appearance at the Scottish Tory conference next week is another sign of thawing relations.
A party source said: “It was originally likely that the Prime Minister would address conference in a video.
“The war in Ukraine has changed the situation. This crisis is bigger than any disagreements we may have.
“In light of Russia’s appalling actions, we asked that the Prime Minister address conference in person.”
Willie Rennie MSP said: “The Scottish Conservatives have the backbone of a jellyfish.
“Their limited welcome betrays a deep embarrassment that they are lumbered with a Prime Minister that they are ashamed of because of his double standards over parties in Downing Street.
“It is difficult to change Prime Minister in the midst of an international crisis when we should be focusing on assisting the people of Ukraine but he should have been gone long before now.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “We are right to be defending democracy in Ukraine, but that doesn’t mean we stop doing democracy at home.
“This is a Prime Minister that has broken his own laws and shown contempt for the people of the UK.
“Douglas Ross should not be using the Ukraine crisis to go back on his principles.
“He knows Boris Johnson is not fit to be Prime Minister.
“The United Kingdom, including Scotland, deserves better.”
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