AS leaked video emerged of Downing Street staff joking about Christmas parties last year, searches for "cancel conservative membership" exploded, analysis of search data revealed.

Google search data shows an explosion in people searching the term on Wednesday as the news broke on Tuesday evening.

There are clear spikes in searches in the morning and then further spikes throughout the day as Boris Johnson announced at PMQs that there would be an investigation launched into the December 18, 2020 alleged party.

As the Prime Minister announced further Covid restrictions for England, searches for the term jumped to their highest level.

The National:

Leaked video that was shared with ITV News showed Downing Street aides including former press secretary Allegra Stratton joking about a "party" that had happened a few days before.

Stratton resigned earlier today but a snap poll showed that a majority of voters think Boris Johnson should resign as well.

The video had been recorded on December 22, four days after the event had taken place and as London was in Tier 3 Covid restrictions and all of the UK was under tough measures to stop the spread of the virus.

READ MORE: Commons fury as Boris Johnson tries to duck responsibility over Christmas party

Conservative ministers were unavailable for broadcast interviews this morning, which they usually do, as news of the video spread and was carried across the front pages of most newspapers with Ant and Dec mentioning the incident on I'm a Celebrity last night.

At Prime Minister's Questions, Johnson faced calls to tell the truth about the incident and explain what he knew from Labour leader Keir Starmer. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on the PM to resign.