Boris Johnson could face another vote of confidence in a few days, as members of the back bank’s conservative committee will consider changing their rules as early as Wednesday night, according to The Guardian.
Two members of the executive said it was possible that the 1922 Committee could decide at an executive meeting on Wednesday afternoon to change the rules to allow for another vote. Johnson is protected under current rules by immunity a year after winning a vote a month ago.
Boris Johnson’s press secretary insisted he would fight another vote of confidence if convened. When asked if the prime minister thought she would win it, she said, “Yes.”
He said appointments to replace leaders who had resigned since Tuesday night would come “in the next few days”. He claimed Johnson had the support of most of his deputies.
If the executive changes the rules and enough MPs have sent letters to Sir Graham Brady to demand a new vote of confidence, then one could take place immediately. “The first ballot was triggered and held on the same day; we can move quickly if we need to,” one MP said.
However, the committee is divided on how to proceed and one said at least six committee members were unable to hold the scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. due to other commitments, including questioning Johnson at a meeting of the committee. liaison committee of select committee chairs.
A member of the executive said you had to keep a cool head and that any decision would have total probity. “We need to calmly navigate the position and strike a balance on what needs to happen,” the MP said. “We have to ask ourselves if we have to make a decision of this magnitude at this time. Is he wise? What it means for future leaders. “
There are other options open to committee members, such as waiting until new members are elected to the executive, which is expected to be next week. Others favor a delegation going to see the prime minister to give him a chance to resign.
A member of the executive said he could make it clear to lawmakers that if 50% of the parliamentary party, enough for the prime minister to lose a vote of confidence, wrote to Brady to ask for a change of leader, the prime minister would know he had to go there.
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Two cabinet ministers, Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, resigned on Tuesday citing Johnson’s behavior. A lot of former loyalists have also resigned or withdrawn their trust in Johnson, including Johnson’s vocal supporters such as Jonathan Gullis and Lee Anderson.
Other MPs considered favorites of the party’s opinion who supported Johnson in the vote of confidence, such as Robert Halfon, the chairman of the select committee on education, have also said the prime minister should now leave.