Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said in a statement on Monday that the number of Conservative MPs calling for the vote had reached the required threshold. Voting will take place Monday between 6pm and 8pm local time.
Johnson’s presidency has been shaken by the so-called “Partygate” scandal, with months of allegations of parties and meetings at the heart of his government during various stages of a pandemic blockade eroding confidence in his leadership. He has also been criticized for his response to a cost-of-living crisis.
The Prime Minister’s approval ratings have been falling and there has been a growing sense among some parts of his Conservative Party in government that this is becoming a responsibility. The party faces two difficult by-elections later this month.
The PA news agency quoted a Downing Street spokesman as saying that Johnson “welcomed the opportunity to present his case to lawmakers.”
As a sign of public displeasure, the Prime Minister was booed on Friday by some members of the public when he arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral in London for a Thanksgiving service for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Under Conservative Party rules, if MPs want to get rid of their leader, they present a confidential letter of censure to the chairman of the 1922 Committee, a group of lawmakers who do not hold government office. The process is turbulent: the letters are kept secret and the president, Graham Brady, does not even reveal how many have been delivered.
When 15% of Conservative legislators have sent letters, a vote of confidence is triggered among all Conservative legislators.
This is a developing story.
CNN’s Sharon Braithwaite contributed to the reports.