Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns has defended sticking her middle finger up at a 'baying mob' of anti-Boris Johnson protestors, saying: 'I had reached the end of my tether'.

The Tory MP and newly appointed junior education minister, who made the gesture as she entered Downing Street on Thursday afternoon, prior to getting the job, has admitted she 'should have shown more composure' after lashing out at the 'Bye Boris' protestors.

She said she was standing up for herself after being subject to 'huge amounts of abuse' over the years, including two death threats in recent weeks.

Tories today hit out at the minister after she was filmed making the rude gesture while entering Downing Street.