Boris Johnson and his allies have launched an emergency effort to pressure uncertain MPs as they face the spiraling threat of a vote of confidence in their leadership that could jeopardize their position in a matter of days. .
On Tuesday night, at least 44 Conservative MPs had publicly questioned Johnson’s ability to hold office, including 18 known to have sent letters to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Conservative Committee of Deputies, to formally request a vote. of trust.
The rest have openly called for the resignation of the prime minister or said they have lost faith in his leadership.
Andrea Leadsom, the former cabinet minister, joined the growing ranks of public critics on Tuesday, saying there had been a “leadership failure” within the number 10. Two more MPs, both in government positions and, for so much so that they have not spoken publicly, it is also known that they have sent letters.
Separately, The Guardian has seen letters to voters or public statements from at least 35 other MPs suggesting they are openly questioning the future of the prime minister or expressing deep concern over the events of No. 10, including former ministers Richard Graham and Mark Garnier. , and 2019 Deputy Anthony Browne.
Browne, who told voters he had lost his mother during the pandemic, said he was “dismayed by the behavior shown by the prime minister and the top 10 staff, and agrees that there was a poor culture and a failure of the top leadership, both political and official. It is right that they should take responsibility. “
Garnier said some “would question the Met’s probity and how his view of what happened seems to differ from what appears in the published photographs,” but suggested he would wait for an investigation by the Commons Privilege Committee to find out whether Johnson he had deceived. deputies.
Graham told voters he would not issue a new statement until the privilege report was completed, and would not reveal whether he would send a letter. But he said other colleagues had decided that the prime minister had deceived parliament and had to resign, and “I respect his views”.
According to Conservative rules, if 15% of the parliamentary party, which has 54 MPs, sends letters to Brady, this will result in a vote of confidence. Johnson would then have to win the support of 180 MPs (half of the parliamentary party plus one) to continue in office.
Brady declined to comment Tuesday on whether he was close to the threshold. “You can always ask,” he told BBC News. “I tell people they are very free to do so, and I will keep my discretion. I can’t say anything else.”
However, there is a growing expectation that enough letters have arrived or will be sent out soon for a vote of confidence next week, or else this could happen if the Conservatives malfunction in two key by-elections this month. coming.
While it is possible that Brady will announce a vote of confidence during the current parliamentary recession, high-level conservative sources have suggested that Brady would stay until after the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.
As the sense of crisis deepened within No. 10, conservative whips began calling on lawmakers to try to get their support. Reports said Johnson had done the same, hinting at a possible promotion, although a Downing Street source said he was “too busy”.
Leadsom, who served as business secretary under Johnson, issued a letter to voters saying last week’s report on parties breaching the blockade within Downing Street showed “major leadership failures, both political and official. “.
“Each of my fellow Conservative MPs and I must now decide individually what is the right course of action that will restore confidence in our government,” he argued.
Also on Tuesday, Carlisle MP John Stevenson said he had added his name to those who wrote to Brady.
He said: “Unfortunately, the Prime Minister does not seem ready to take matters into his own hands and to put them to the vote. Therefore, the only option is for the Conservative MPs to facilitate a vote of confidence. I have already taken the appropriate measures.” .
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Opponents have already begun trying to persuade enough MPs to vote against Johnson if there are votes of confidence, arguing that if the prime minister secured a limited victory, he would limped into electoral defeat or risk a quick poll. “We have to reach 160 or it will destroy all our electoral hopes,” one said.
Amid the aftermath of Sue Gray’s report in last week’s No. 10 match, Johnson wrote to his independent adviser on the ministerial code, Lord Geidt, telling him that as a code arbitrator, he did not believe that he would have been offended by being fined for attending his birthday party.
“In connection with the fixed penalty notice for my attendance in the Cabinet Room on June 19, 2020, I believe that, given all the circumstances, I did not violate the code,” Johnson wrote, adding. that the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, who was fined for the same act, was also made clear.