Boris Johnson faces vote of no confidence by rebel MPs

Tory whips fear more than 54 MPs may submit letters of no confidence tomorrow, triggering a vote of no confidence in the PM amid fury over illegal Downing St parties.

Boris Johnson attending Prime Minister's Questions last week. Picture; Getty Images.

Boris Johnson is facing a potential vote of no confidence as early as tomorrow (AEDT) with at least 20 rebel MPs reportedly plotting to oust him.

The recently elected MPs, many representing former Labour heartland “Red Wall” seats, met on Tuesday to discuss their concerns about the Prime Minister.

The meeting — dubbed the “pork pie putsch” because one MP represents the constituency containing Melton Mowbray, home of the traditional meat pie — took place shortly after the prime minister “categorically” denied claims by his former chief aide that he lied to parliament about a Downing Street party held during a strict lockdown, The Times reports.

Appearing in public for the first time after days of Covid self-isolation, Mr Johnson ducked questions about whether he would resign if an internal inquiry establishes that he did lie, as Dominic Cummings claims.

However UK media reports the rebel MPs are preparing to submit letters of no confidence after Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday local time.

Labour leader Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions last week. Picture: Getty Images.

The Times reports that Tory whips are concerned that while just 20 MPs were in the meeting, the number of letters of no confidence could exceed the threshold of 54 needed to trigger a leadership election. They said that when they confronted the MPs they were open about their plan. “They didn’t even try to hide it,” a whip told the newspaper.

One of the rebels told the UK Telegraph the threshold of 54 could be triggered on Wednesday afternoon (UK time, Thursday morning AEDT).

Mr Johnson is battling damaging allegations that he and staff attended boozy events during Covid restrictions, prompting an investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray.

The revelations have sparked public fury, leading to a double-digit lead in polls for the main opposition Labour party over Johnson’s Conservatives, and calls from some Tories for the PM to quit.

Mr Johnson has apologised for a party on May 20, 2020 in the Downing Street garden, telling parliament last week he thought it was a “work event”, despite an aide inviting staff to “bring your own booze”.

But Mr Cummings, his combative former senior adviser, who has been waging a vendetta against the PM since leaving Downing Street in late 2020, said he warned his then boss about the event at the time.

“I can tell you categorically that nobody told me, nobody said this was something that was against the rules, that it was a breach of the Covid rules, that it was something that wasn’t a work event,” Mr Johnson said.

He has also been forced to apologise to the Queen over another drunken event at Downing St on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral last year.

Queen Elizabeth sits alone during the funeral of Prince Philip at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Picture: Getty Images.

In the latest of an incendiary series of blog posts, Mr Cummings wrote that he told Mr Johnson Downing Street was becoming a boozy “madhouse”. The prime minister “waved it aside”, he said.

“The events of 20 May alone, never mind the string of other events, mean the PM lied to Parliament about parties,” said Cummings, adding he was ready to swear to his account “on oath”.

Mr Cummings is expected to give evidence to Sue Gray, the civil servant investigating the party allegations. The Telegraph reports that. Ms Gray has also been told where to find a potentially explosive email sent by someone in Number 10 at the time objecting to the “socially distanced drinks”.

While six Tory MPs have called for the PM’s resignation, Mr Johnson’s senior ministerial colleagues have largely rallied round him, urging the public to wait for the conclusions from Ms Gray’s investigation, which is expected in the coming days.

But Dominic Raab, the deputy premier and justice secretary, conceded that a proven lie by a minister “would normally under the ministerial code, and the governance around parliament, be a resigning matter”.

And in his first on-camera comments on the revelations, powerful finance minister Rishi Sunak said “the ministerial code is clear on these matters”.

“I fully support the prime minister’s request for patience as this inquiry persists,” said Sunak, who is tipped to be a strong contender to take over from Johnson in any leadership contest.

Pressed on whether the prime minister had his unequivocal support, Sunak then broke off the interview and walked off with his microphone still attached.

The opposition Labour party was unequivocal in restating its demands for Johnson to quit following the Cummings blog.

“Boris Johnson clearly knows it’s the end of the road,” Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said.

With AFP