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Boris Johnson won’t face leadership vote, says Dominic Raab
Boris Johnson will face a no-confidence vote today, Sir Graham Brady has announced.
The chair of the 1922 Committee made the announcement this morning stating: “The threshold of 15 per cent of the parliamentary party seeking a vote of confidence in the leader of the Conservative Party has been exceeded.”
He added that the vote will be held between 6pm and 8pm today with the ballots being counted “immediately afterwards” and an announcement made subsequently of the result.
It comes as almost 30 Tory MPs have publicly urged the prime minister to resign amid the fallout from revelations about Downing Street parties held during lockdown.
Former minister Jesse Norman also penned a strongly worded letter withdrawing his support from the prime minister highlighting the Sue Gray report in addition to the party “lacking a sense of mission” under Boris Johnson.
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Key Points Boris Johnson will face no-confidence vote today, Sir Graham Brady confirms Cabinet ministers including the Chancellor back PM to win vote ‘Likely’ no-confidence vote will take place, Sajid Javid admits No-confidence vote likely this week Another Tory MP publicly withdraws support from Boris Johnson
Show latest update 1654507542 ‘Judgement Day' for Boris Johnson - Sir Ed Davey says
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the confidence vote marks "judgment day" for the Prime Minister.
"It's judgment day for Conservative MPs and their sleaze-ridden prime minister," he tweeted
"If they fail to sack Boris Johnson, it will be an insult to all those who made sacrifices and suffered while he partied."
It comes as Scottish Secretary Alister Jack will support the Prime Minister in Monday's confidence vote.
Mr Jack, who has never wavered in his backing for Boris Johnson during Partygate, said he had "no doubt" that other Tory MPs will also back the Prime Minister and keep him in Downing Street.
"The Prime Minister has my full support, and I will be voting to back him tonight," he said.
"He is showing tremendous leadership as we face major challenges at home and abroad.
"I have no doubt that my colleagues in the parliamentary party will vote to show their confidence in the prime minister."
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 10:25
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In his first public statement since the confidence vote was announced, Boris Johnson chose to focus on the war in Ukraine
The Prime Minister's allies have warned that the Russian invasion is a reason why the leader should not be changed. Mr Johnson highlighted the UK's supply of rocket artillery systems to Ukraine.
"We cannot stand by while Russian long-range artillery flattens cities and kills innocent civilians," he said.
"The UK will gift the Ukrainian armed forces multiple-launch rocket systems so they can effectively repel the continuing Russian onslaught."
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 10:15
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Sir Keir Starmer said the public mood has changed with a "general sense that this man doesn't really tell the truth".
Speaking to LBC about the upcoming confidence vote in Boris Johnson by Tory MPs, Sir Keir said: "I think the mood has changed.
"I think the public have made their mind up about this man. They don't think he's really telling the truth about many, many things - not just partygate - but just the general sense that this man doesn't really tell the truth, (he) can't be trusted.
The Labour leader also said: "We've got a prime minister trying to cling on to his job and most people would say 'your job is to help me through the cost-of-living crisis and you're not doing it because you're distracted'."
Sir Keir said that even if Mr Johnson wins, "I think history tells us that this is the beginning of the end.
"If you look at the previous examples of no confidence votes, even when Conservative Prime Ministers survived those, he might survive it tonight, the damage is already done and usually they fall reasonably swiftly afterwards."
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 10:00
1654505142 Partygate not the only issue - Jesse Norman MP says
Jesse Norman MP has been speaking after withdrawing his support for Boris Johnson.
The former minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there is a "clear picture of a much wider set of concerns" that go beyond the Partygate scandal.
The MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire says it extends to "core policy issues" like the government's plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, and the "potential breach" of the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit deal.
There is, he adds, "deep concern" about the way in which policy is being handled, with the creation of "dividing lines and cultural war and poilitical disagreement" when "unifying" and "positive" leadership is needed.
Norman says another "question" is over what he calls the "gradual centralisation of power" in No 10, adding that Johnson is not a president. and it would be a "very serious mistake" to treat him as one.
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 09:45
1654505084 Boris Johnson will address Tory MPs ahead of no-confidence vote
Boris Johnson will address Tory MPs later on Monday as he fights to save his premiership.
The Prime Minister will speak to the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers ahead of Monday evening’s confidence vote. It comes as a single page memo has been distributed to Tory MPs calling on them to avoid a “divisive and hurtful” leadership contest that will “only benefit Keir Starmer.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (PA)
(PA Wire)
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 09:44
1654504542 More ministers back Boris Johnon
Communities Secretary Michael Gove voiced his support for the Prime Minister, tweeting: "I'll be voting for Boris this evening. The PM got the big decisions right on Brexit and Covid.
"We need to focus now on defending Ukraine, driving levelling-up and generating growth. We need to move past this moment and unite behind Boris to meet these challenges."
Conservative Party chair Oliver Dowden tweeted: "I will be voting for Boris Johnson in the confidence vote tonight.
"He's demonstrated real leadership in getting the big calls right as PM - Brexit, vaccines, reopening and Ukraine.
"I hope after this vote we can come together and focus on the future. Let's face the big challenges united and focused on delivery."
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 09:35
1654504099 NEW: Rishi Sunak announces he is backing the prime minister
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has declared his support for Boris Johnson in tonight’s no-confidence vote.
Writing on Twitter, Mr Sunak said: “From the vaccine rollout to our response to Russian aggression, the PM has shown the strong leadership our country needs.
“I am backing him today and will continue to back him as we focus on growing the economy, tackling the cost of living and clearing the Covid backlogs.”
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 09:28
1654503942 ‘This is the beginning of the end,’ Keir Starmer says
Keir Starmer tells LBC that Conservative MPs should "show some leadership and vote against the prime minister — he’s lost the trust of the country".
"Stand up and get rid of him," he adds.
"This is the beginning of the end," for Boris Johnson.
Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner last week received questionnaires from Durham Police in their investigation into alleged Covid rule breaking. Mr Starmer said he would resign if he was fined in the probe.
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 09:25
1654503342 Who could replace Boris Johnson?
As confirmation of a no-confidence vote is now in, many are asking the question of who will replace Boris Johnson if he loses tonight’s vote.
Bookmakers have shortened the odds on Boris Johnson being replaced as prime minister as outrage over the “Partygate” scandal refuses to die down.
Mr Johnson has repeatedly attempted to ride out the storm of indignation, protesting his innocence with credulity-straining excuses and brazenly rejecting calls to step aside despite being found to have broken his own laws in office.
Read the full report below:
Who could replace Boris Johnson as PM? Embattled PM still under fire over Partygate as his own MPs demand resignation and letters of no confidence pile up at 1922 Committee
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 09:15
1654502954 Ministers begin rallying around Boris Johnson
Cabinet ministers have begun rallying around Boris Johnson in preparation for tonight’s leadership vote.
Northern Ireland minister Brandon Lewis wrote on Twitter: “The prime minister has my full backing in today's vote.
“He got the key big decisions right on covid, Brexit delivery & supporting Ukraine. He has apologised for mistakes made and we owe it to our constituents to focus on delivering to make lives better.”
Liz Truss also wrote on Twitter: “The prime minister has my 100 per cent backing in today's vote and I strongly encourage colleagues to support him.
“He has delivered on covid recovery and supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. He has apologised for mistakes made.
“We must now focus on economic growth.”
Foreign Office minister James Cleverly cites Johnson's election track record, saying he won London twice against expectations, before adding he has "governed brilliantly".
"I’m not going to go flaky on him now," he says.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke says "it is crystal clear to me that Boris Johnson and Boris Johnson alone won our historic victory in 2019".
Thomas Kingsley 6 June 2022 09:09
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