How many Tory MPs want Boris Johnson to resign? Who has submitted letters of no confidence to 1922 Committee

Jesse Norman has become the latest Tory MP to announce that he has submitted a letter to Sir Graham Brady calling for a confidence vote in Boris Johnson
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Boris Johnson will face a vote of confidence by Tory MPs on Monday evening following weeks of discontent over lockdown-breaching parties in No 10 and Whitehall.

A steady stream of Tory MPs publicly called for the Prime Minister to stand down in the wake of Sue Gray’s ‘partygate’ report and now the threshold for a vote has been reached.

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Mr Johnson was informed that he would face a vote on Sunday after Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, confirmed he had received the 54 letters from Conservative MPs needed to trigger the ballot.

The vote – by secret ballot – will take place at Westminster on Monday between 6pm and 8pm, with the count to take place immediately afterwards.

Pressure is mounting on Boris Johnson to resign (Photo: Getty Images)Pressure is mounting on Boris Johnson to resign (Photo: Getty Images)
Pressure is mounting on Boris Johnson to resign (Photo: Getty Images)

Tories Andrew Bridgen and Elliot Colburn confirmed last week that they had submitted no-confidence letters, joining a growing number of colleagues, while Nickie Aiken suggested Mr Johnson should submit himself to a confidence vote to end the “speculation” over his future.

Mr Bridgen emailed his North West Leicestershire constituents to say he had resubmitted his letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson following “further revelations over the past week”, which saw the publication of the long-awaited Sue Gray partygate report.

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He originally submitted a letter in January 2022 but withdrew it in March, arguing it was not appropriate to hold a confidence vote amid the fighting in Ukraine.

In his email to constituents, Mr Bridgen said: “I did believe that during the initial stages of the Russia/Ukraine war that it would be wrong to have a leadership contest.

“There have, however, been further revelations over the past week and there is obviously and rightly still a lot of anger about the culture in No 10 during the lockdown period.

“I and colleagues have put in a letter of no confidence over the past few days and it may well be the numbers are close to triggering a vote of no confidence.

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“This would give the parliamentary party the opportunity to register whether they believe Boris Johnson is the person to continue leading the party or not.”

Earlier, former attorney general Jeremy Wright said events in Downing Street had caused “real and lasting damage” to the government’s authority and that he had concluded “with regret” that Mr Johnson should go.

No 10 is currently under pressure to say if Mr Johnson’s wife hosted a second lockdown party in the Downing Street flat on the day of the Prime Minister’s 56th birthday.

In her report, Ms Gray said she had only gathered “limited” evidence on the event when she had to stop due to the police investigation, and that she did not consider it “appropriate or proportionate” to resume after officers concluded their inquiry.

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Despite the daming details revealed in Ms Gray’s report, Mr Johnson has insisted he still has the support of his party, and he has shown no sign of being prepared to quit.

However, a Conservative Party leadership contest could be triggered if the PM were to lose a confidence vote among his own MPs.

Which Tory MPs want Boris Johnson to resign?

Almost 30 Tory MPs have publicly said they want a confidence vote and said they want Mr Johnson to leave office immediately, according to a tally by Sky’s politics producer Tom Larkin.

More than 40 Tories have questioned the PM’s position since the publication of Sue Gray’s partygate report last week, Sky News reports.

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Former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who stood against Boris Johnson in 2019, has said that he would vote against the Prime Minister, warning the Tories would lose the next election if he remained in post.

He said: “Having been trusted with power, Conservative MPs know in our hearts we are not giving the British people the leadership they deserve.

“We are not offering the integrity, competence and vision necessary to unleash the enormous potential of our country. And because we are no longer trusted by the electorate, who know this too, we are set to lose the next general election.

“Anyone who believes our country is stronger, fairer and more prosperous when led by Conservatives should reflect that the consequence of not changing will be to hand the country to others who do not share those values.

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“Today’s decision is change or lose. I will be voting for change.”

Guildford MP Angela Richardson has also said she will be voting against Mr Johnson on Monday.

She said: “From the very beginning of the issues surrounding the Prime Minister’s conduct during the lockdown period and his subsequent answers to parliamentary questions, I have been consistent in my views about the standards people expect of those in high office.

“Last week, I made a statement following the publication of the full Sue Gray report that questioned whether those standards had been upheld.

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“The deep disappointment I expressed in a previous statement in January has not abated. Given that, I will be voting no confidence in Boris Johnson this evening.”

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The following MPs have confirmed they have submitted a letter of no confidence:

  • Peter Alduous, MP for Waveney
  • Aaron Bell, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme
  • Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East
  • Sir Roger Gale, MP for North Thanet
  • Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon
  • Mark Harper, MP for Forest of Dean
  • Anthony Mangnall, MP for Totnes
  • Nigel Mills, MP for Amber Valley
  • Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North
  • Gary Streeter, MP for South Devon
  • Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley
  • David Davis, MP for Haltemprice and Howden
  • Steve Baker, MP for High Wycombe
  • William Wragg, MP for Hazel Grove
  • Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham
  • Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield
  • Nick Gibb, MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
  • Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer
  • Steve Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford
  • John Baron, MP for Basildon and Billericay
  • David Simmonds, MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
  • Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot
  • Bob Neill, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst
  • Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton
  • Jeremy Wright, MP for Kenilworth and Southam
  • Elliot Colburn, MP for Carshalton and Wallington
  • Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire
  • John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle
  • Dame Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire
  • Jesse Norman, MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire
  • Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset

What are the Conservative rules for a vote of no confidence?

A total of 54 letters of no confidence from Tory MPs, 15% of the parliamentary party, need to be submitted to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, for a confidence vote to be held.

MPs’ letters are held on file by Sir Graham, unless they are withdrawn, and he keeps a secret running tally of the number. If the 15% threshold is reached, he will announce a no confidence vote.

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At least 50% of Tory MPs must vote “no confidence” for the Prime Minister to lose.

If Mr Johnson is voted out or forced to resign, a leadership contest to replace him as the head of the Tory Party would take place. Although he is likely to remain in his post until a successor is in place.

The contest takes place in two stages, with the first stage allowing Tory MPs to put themselves forward as candidates.

All Conservatives will then vote in a series of rounds to reduce the number of candidates until only two remain.

The second stage of the contest will see the two remaining candidates put to a vote of Conservative Party members.

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