Boris Johnson and Partygate saga

[Robert]

MPs shouldn't override 14 million Johnson voters, says Dorries

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has been on the BBC News channel, where she's asked about the possibility that 100 or even 150 MPs might vote against Boris Johnson tonight.

She says 14 million people voted for Boris Johnson in 2019 - "is it the place of a minority of MPs to override that?"

Yeah, we have a Presidential system in this country, eh Nads?

 

[MenInG]

Another Tory MP reveals he voted against Boris Johnson

Conservative MP Laurence Robertson has confirmed he voted against Boris Johnson in tonight's confidence vote in the PM's leadership.

The MP for Tewkesbury posted on social media: "It's with a very heavy heart that I've voted against Boris Johnson's continuing as leader of the Conservative Party.

"He has achieved a great deal, but I believe it's now time for a new approach."

The Daily Mail's deputy political editor John Stevens reports that a total of 156 Tory MPs have now expressed their intention to vote in favour of Mr Johnson's leadership continuing.

Mr Johnson needs 180 votes to continue in his role.

There are just 20 more minutes left for MPs to vote.

SKY

 

[MenInG]

Secret ballot closes after vote of confidence in Boris Johnson's leadership

Conservative MPs have for the last two hours been voting on whether they have confidence in Boris Johnson's leadership.

The voting period has now closed, with a result expected to be announced by 1922 Committee Chairman Sir Graham Brady in around an hour's time.

For the prime minister to be ousted, half of Tory MPs plus one would need to vote against him, which is currently 180 MPs.

If he wins, he will remain as party leader and prime minister and would be, under current rules, immune from another such challenge for a year.

If he loses, a contest to choose a new party leader and prime minister will take place, with Mr Johnson barred from standing.

At the closing of the ballot, the Daily Mail's deputy political editor had counted a total of 157 Tory MPs who had publicly said they were backing Mr Johnson - 23 votes off the 180 figure required for the PM's position to be secured.

 

[MenInG]

 

[DeadlyVenom]

wow that was quite close!

40% of Tories have no confidence in Boris.

 

[Markhor]

211-148.

Appalling result for Boris Johnson. That's worse than Theresa May, John Major and Margaret Thatcher's showings in their confidence votes.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

There are officially more MP's in parliament with no confidence in boris than there are those with confidence!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Nadim Zahwawi thinks Zelensky will be punching the air because Boris won

Where the hell do we find these idiots from?

 

[Markhor]

There are officially more MP's in parliament with no confidence in boris than there are those with confidence!

160 of those MPs who voted with Boris are those on Govt payroll

 

[Saj]

UK PM Boris Johnson wins vote of confidence despite a substantial rebellion by Tory MPs - 211 voted for him and 148 against

 

[topspin]

Embarrassment for Boris. The writing is on the wall. It would be beyond shameless for him to cling on from here.

I hope he resigns. I would much prefer to see Rishi Sunak lead the Tories.

 

[JaDed]

Embarrassment for Boris. The writing is on the wall. It would be beyond shameless for him to cling on from here.

I hope he resigns. I would much prefer to see Rishi Sunak lead the Tories.

Tories would lose if Sunak leads them, Boris is a popular face of Conservatives, they should stick with him if they want to remain relevant.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Embarrassment for Boris. The writing is on the wall. It would be beyond shameless for him to cling on from here.

I hope he resigns. I would much prefer to see Rishi Sunak lead the Tories.

Believe me, that's no surprise to anyone.

 

[Vatta]

A horrific result for the Tories - they are stuck with him now.

Question is when and not if, he'll go.

 

[Markhor]

Tories would lose if Sunak leads them, Boris is a popular face of Conservatives, they should stick with him if they want to remain relevant.

His popularity since Partygate, corruption scandals and inflationary surge has plummeted.

Excluding the rally around the flag bounce that most world leaders got after Covid, and the vaccine rollout, Boris's approval ratings has been negative. He was fortunate to face Corbyn in 2019 who had even worse ratings.

 

[Markhor]

You got to love Desi Twitter in times like this.

Some suggesting Boris Johnson will soon produce a letter proving a foreign conspiracy to oust him

 

[KingKhanWC]

He was never going to lose , now the clown is guaranteed another 12 months minimum. Brits get played so easily .

Royal farce over , COVID gone , Bojo safe. Will be Back to warmongering against Russia , even though it’s too late .

 

[KingKhanWC]

Embarrassment for Boris. The writing is on the wall. It would be beyond shameless for him to cling on from here.

I hope he resigns. I would much prefer to see Rishi Sunak lead the Tories.

Come on bro with that Lego hair he don’t care about being embarrassed

 

[ElRaja]

thats pretty much as bad as it can get without being thrown out, around 30 votes holding an axe over his head for every decision now.

his showing is even weaker than may, but the question is who'll be the boris to boris' may. the only thing going for bojo is how hopeless everyone else in his party is.

 

[Technics 1210]

He was never going to lose , now the clown is guaranteed another 12 months minimum. Brits get played so easily .

Royal farce over , COVID gone , Bojo safe. Will be Back to warmongering against Russia , even though it’s too late .

1922 committee has power to change rules and another vote of no confidence can be held within 13 months.

This is Western democracy at its finest, change the rules when you don't win.

 

[Robert]

211-148.

Appalling result for Boris Johnson. That's worse than Theresa May, John Major and Margaret Thatcher's showings in their confidence votes.

He’s holed below the waterline now. Can’t unite the Parliamentary party and has burned his political capital with Tory voters, Wakefield will certainly fall to Labour on 23 June, and Tiverton & Honniton probably to the Lib Dems. Only a matter of time.

 

[Bewal Express]

Boris will survive because the alternative of Gove or Patel sends shivers down the spine of any sane voter. I amazed that Labour can't persuade someone like Brown to comeback as leader, he was left enough for the left but not scary left for the electorate.

 

[KingKhanWC]

1922 committee has power to change rules and another vote of no confidence can be held within 13 months.

This is Western democracy at its finest, change the rules when you don't win.

Thanks I didn’t realise . Hope Boris & Biden stay for at least another 12 months , their presence alone has shifted the power balance in that world. Boris went to Saudi to beg , came back with nothing . This would be unimaginable 30 years ago . Biden has probably informed Air Force One destination is South Korea so we’ll have to wait until his plane is rerouted to Saudi Arabia

 

[Bewal Express]

His popularity since Partygate, corruption scandals and inflationary surge has plummeted.

Excluding the rally around the flag bounce that most world leaders got after Covid, and the vaccine rollout, Boris's approval ratings has been negative. He was fortunate to face Corbyn in 2019 who had even worse ratings.

View attachment 116180

Things may change but if an election is held the Tories will still win. The secret Tory vote is still solid but they will lose the Northern seats

 

[DeadlyVenom]

He’s holed below the waterline now. Can’t unite the Parliamentary party and has burned his political capital with Tory voters, Wakefield will certainly fall to Labour on 23 June, and Tiverton & Honniton probably to the Lib Dems. Only a matter of time.

Wakefield is a certainty after the Imran Ahmed incident.

Do you know how actively the Labour party are campaigning in Tiverton & Honniton? I know there was talk about labour taking it easy and the lib dems throwing a lot of resource at it but wonder how things are on the ground.

 

[Technics 1210]

Thanks I didn’t realise . Hope Boris & Biden stay for at least another 12 months , their presence alone has shifted the power balance in that world. Boris went to Saudi to beg , came back with nothing . This would be unimaginable 30 years ago . Biden has probably informed Air Force One destination is South Korea so we’ll have to wait until his plane is rerouted to Saudi Arabia

I think the damage is done; it's a dog and pony show going forwards. West is in decline and whether it is Boris or Patel or Gove or Starmer, the UK is finished and I put the blame firmly in the hand of the Liberals.

Biden on the other hand is far worse than Boris and has a gaff reel that runs into hours! At least the Saudis agreed to meet Boris, but Biden and his woke token VP have been an utter disaster.

Even with Boris gone we are going to see the same pattern in the next couple of years. Leader in, leader out, shake it all about!

Saying this, all Boris needs is another 'crisis' for the public to regain confidence, so expect some kind of terror attack, financial collapse, war, or health scare around the corner.

 

[James]

A laughably bad showing from Boris in the confidence ballot, yes he technically survives for now but only by a 32 vote swing which is essentially his front bench.

If he has an ounce of human decency and honour (which he doesn’t) he will resign gracefully tomorrow morning.

 

[Firebat]

Boris Johnson wins vote but suffers large Tory rebellion

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won the backing of a majority of Tory MPs in a confidence vote despite a significant revolt against his leadership.

The PM won 59% of the vote, meaning he is now immune from a Conservative leadership challenge for a year.

In all, 211 Tory MPs voted they had confidence in the PM's leadership while 148 voted against him.

Mr Johnson described his confidence vote win as "decisive".

Striking an upbeat tone, he said it was a "very good", "convincing" result and "an opportunity to put behind us all the stuff that the media goes on about".

The result sees the prime minister remain in office, but critics said the scale of the rebellion against him showed his authority had been weakened, with some calling on him to resign.

The vote share in support of Mr Johnson was lower than the 63% received by former Prime Minister Theresa May when she won a party confidence vote in 2018, before resigning six months later over a Brexit deadlock.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said a "divided" Conservative Party was "propping up" Mr Johnson after he survived the confidence vote.

And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said while Mr Johnson had clung on to power, "his reputation is in tatters and his authority is now totally shot".

But Downing Street said the result "renews the PM's mandate" and allows the government to "focus relentlessly on the issues that concern our voters".

Tory MP and Welsh Secretary Simon Hart told the BBC the prime minister "has lots to prove" but insisted the result "was pretty decisive".

Mr Johnson, who became prime minister in 2019, was informed he would face a vote on his leadership on Sunday during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, after weeks of speculation over his future.

The ballot was triggered by Conservative MPs after at least 15% of them wrote letters of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the party's backbench 1922 Committee.

Discontent among Tory MPs has grown since a highly critical report into lockdown parties in and near Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic was published last month.

The report laid bare the extent of Covid rule-breaking in Number 10, including at a birthday party Mr Johnson was fined by the police for attending in June 2020.

The fine meant Mr Johnson became the UK's first serving prime minister to be sanctioned for breaking the law.

Some Tory MPs have also expressed dissent over tax rises, the government's response to rising living costs and its policy direction.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61709441

 

[Technics 1210]

Expect an election in May 2023!

 

[Robert]

Wakefield is a certainty after the Imran Ahmed incident.

Do you know how actively the Labour party are campaigning in Tiverton & Honniton? I know there was talk about labour taking it easy and the lib dems throwing a lot of resource at it but wonder how things are on the ground.

Local Labour are fighting, but the wider party is concentrating on Wakefield. I agree, they will take it back for certain.

I know for a fact that the LDs are throwing the kitchen sink at T&H with activists swarming from all over GB. Davey, Cooper, Moran, Cable and Farron have all come down.

But so are the Tories. At least twelve of their MPs have turned up to doorstep at T&H so far, including my own. They are desperate to cling on there.

 

[Firebat]

Johnson is ally and I'm happy he's still PM, Ukraine's president says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was "very happy" Boris Johnson was still UK prime minister after he survived an attempt to oust him.

Mr Johnson won a confidence vote despite a major revolt that saw 148 of his own Tory MPs vote to remove him.

"I'm glad we haven't lost an important ally, this is great news," Mr Zelensky said at an online event.

Mr Johnson has forged a close relationship with President Zelensky since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

He called Mr Johnson a "true friend of Ukraine" and a "concrete" supporter in an interview at a virtual conference hosted by the Financial Times on Tuesday.

The UK was among the first to provide weapons to support Ukraine's defence and - like its Western allies - has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russian targets prosecuting the war.

In April, Mr Johnson pledged "unwavering support" on a visit to the capital Kyiv, where he did an unannounced walkabout of the city with President Zelensky.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61719962

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Local Labour are fighting, but the wider party is concentrating on Wakefield. I agree, they will take it back for certain.

I know for a fact that the LDs are throwing the kitchen sink at T&H with activists swarming from all over GB. Davey, Cooper, Moran, Cable and Farron have all come down.

But so are the Tories. At least twelve of their MPs have turned up to doorstep at T&H so far, including my own. They are desperate to cling on there.

Thank you for the insight.

I'm looking forward to the T&H result. Will hopefully give both Boris and Starmer a bloody nose.

 

[Robert]

Thank you for the insight.

I'm looking forward to the T&H result. Will hopefully give both Boris and Starmer a bloody nose.

On the Starmer front, it will be further evidence that the under the table centre-left nonaggression pact is working.

Starmer helps the LDs just by being in post. He does not spook centrists like Corbyn did, so they will not break blue and will stay yellow instead.

There won’t be a huge rise in the LD number of seats, maybe up to 20. Davey is a shy policy wonk type. They need an inspiring leader like Ashdown.

 

[Technics 1210]

Beer Starmer is awaiting an investigation into him breaking COVID rules. He has promised to resign if he is handed a fine.

The majority have missed the point, by a country mile. The issue here is not that Boris & Co broke the rules. It’s that the rules were abject nonsense, and they - the government - knew it at Downing Street all along, but insisted on fostering them upon the rest of the population nonetheless.

EVERYONE knows someone who broke COVID rules, did you grass them up? The hell you did hypocrites.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Beer Starmer is awaiting an investigation into him breaking COVID rules. He has promised to resign if he is handed a fine.

The majority have missed the point, by a country mile. The issue here is not that Boris & Co broke the rules. It’s that the rules were abject nonsense, and they - the government - knew it at Downing Street all along, but insisted on fostering them upon the rest of the population nonetheless.

EVERYONE knows someone who broke COVID rules, did you grass them up? The hell you did hypocrites.

I dont think we can call joe public who broke rules hypocrites. Rule breakers yes but not hypocrites.

The word hypocrite should be reserved for those who created them, and came on to our TV screens daily telling us to obey them, while sticking two figures up at joe public.

 

[Robert]

The word hypocrite should be reserved for those who created them, and came on to our TV screens daily telling us to obey them, while sticking two figures up at joe public.

The law-breaking is just part of the problem. It’s also the lying and lying and lying to Parliament. Misleading the Queen to illegally prorogue Parliament. Any one of these is a breach of the ministerial code, and a resignation issue for a person with any sense of honour.

 

[Technics 1210]

Lying in Parliament is neither a crime nor a breach of any humpty dumpty ministerial code, if it were, Tony Blair would be in jail.

 

[MenInG]

Lord Geidt has resigned as the prime minister's adviser on ministerial interests.

He tendered his resignation to Boris Johnson, according to a brief statement on the government's website on Wednesday evening.

"With regret, I feel that it is right that I am resigning from my post as Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests," the statement reads.

A senior source in Number 10 said Lord Geidt's resignation came as "a total surprise" and is "a mystery" to Mr Johnson.

"Only on Monday Lord Geidt asked if he could stay on for six months," the source added.

Last month, Lord Geidt had said there was a "legitimate question" over whether the PM broke the ministerial code after he received a partygate fine over a birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020 when indoor socialising was banned.

In his annual report, the ethics adviser said: "In the case of the fixed penalty notice recently issued to and paid by the Prime Minister, a legitimate question has arisen as to whether those facts alone might have constituted a breach of the overarching duty within the Ministerial Code of complying with the law."

UK chief trade negotiator, David Frost looks on as Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement at 10 Downing Street, Westminster.
\
On Tuesday, Lord Geidt refused to deny to MPs that he had considered resigning over Mr Johnson's response to being penalised for breaching lockdown rules amid the scandal.

Lord Geidt told the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that he had felt "frustration" over the lockdown-busting events that took place in Downing Street and across Whitehall.

"I am glad that the prime minister was able to respond to my report and in doing so addressed aspects of the things about which I was clearly frustrated," he told the committee.

"Resignation is one of the rather blunt but few tools available to the adviser. I am glad that my frustrations were addressed in the way that they were."

Mr Johnson has repeatedly maintained that he did not break the ministerial code.

The PM told Mumsnet he was 'surprised and taken aback' to receive his fixed penalty notice from police investigating lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street during the pandemic.

"In relation to the fixed penalty notice for my attendance in the Cabinet Room on June 19 2020, I believe that, taking account of all the circumstances, I did not breach the code," he wrote in a responding letter to Lord Geidt in May.

It was previously reported that Lord Geidt had threatened to quit after the publication of the Sue Gray report if the PM did not publicly explain his actions.

Lord Geidt is the second person to resign as Mr Johnson's ethics adviser during his less than three years as prime minister.

Sir Alex Allan quit in 2020 after Mr Johnson refused to accept his finding that Home Secretary Priti Patel had bullied civil servants.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner questioned how anyone can believe the PM "is fit to govern".

"The prime minister has now driven both of his own handpicked ethics advisers to resign in despair. If even they can't defend his conduct in office, how can anyone believe he is fit to govern?" she said in a statement.

"Yet he remains propped up in office by a Conservative party that is mired in sleaze and totally unable to tackle the cost of living crisis facing the British people.

"The person who should be leaving Number 10 tonight is Boris Johnson himself. Just how long does the country have to wait before Tory MPs finally do the right thing?"

Labour's Chris Bryant, chair of the Committees on Standards and Privileges, added that it should be the PM who resigns and not Lord Geidt.

"Christopher Geidt is one of the most honourable men I have ever met," he posted on social media.

"In the end, he was a decent man working for an indecent prime minister.

"He thought he could discreetly bring about incremental change but he was repeatedly lied to by Number 10.

"In honour, Johnson should resign."

Legal activist Gina Miller was one of the first to react to Lord Geidt's resignation on social media, tweeting: "Finally!"

Earlier this year, the PM was criticised by Lord Geidt over an official inquiry into the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat for failing to disclose messages he had exchanged with a Tory peer who initially paid for the renovations.

Lord Geidt said it demonstrated "insufficient" respect for his role.

Mr Johnson offered a "humble and sincere apology" to Lord Geidt over the matter.

The year prior, Lord Geidt had found that the PM did not breach the ministerial code over the refurbishment.

SKY

 

[silentkiller187]

Boris seems to have rode the wave and survived , looks like it will be down to the British public to decide his fate in the next elections.

 

[Technics 1210]

More MPs/Ministers resigned over Party-gate than Iraq War in 2003.

Sums up the intention, false pretence, and intellect of resigning MPs.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

More MPs/Ministers resigned over Party-gate than Iraq War in 2003.

Sums up the intention, false pretence, and intellect of resigning MPs.

Is it the same batch of MPs?

 

[MenInG]

Conservative co-chair Oliver Dowden has resigned following two by-election losses for the party to Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

The Lib Dems overturned a huge Tory majority in Tiverton and Honiton, Devon, their third by-election victory over Boris Johnson's party this year.

And Labour retook the seat of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, which it lost at the 2019 general election.

Mr Dowden said Tory supporters were "distressed and disappointed".

In a letter to Mr Johnson, he wrote: "We cannot carry on with business as usual. Somebody must take responsibility and I have concluded that, in these circumstances, it would not be right for me to remain in office."

Mr Dowden also called his resignation "a deeply personal decision that I have taken alone".

Fellow Tory MP Simon Hoare, who has previously been critical of Mr Johnson, said this was "an honourable letter from an honourable man", adding that Mr Dowden was "not responsible" for the by-election losses.

They follow months of criticism of the prime minister over parties in Downing Street during lockdown.

The results also come amid soaring inflation and concerns over the cost of living, and after a narrower-than-expected vote of confidence by Tory MPs in Mr Johnson earlier this month.

In Tiverton and Honiton, where former MP Neil Parish quit after he was found watching pornography in the House of Commons, the Lib Dems took 22,537 votes, beating the Conservatives by 6,144.

At the last general election, the Tories had a 24,239 majority in the mostly rural constituency.

In his victory speech, the Lib Dems' new MP Richard Foord said: "Tonight, the people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for Britain.

"They've sent a loud and clear message: It's time for Boris Johnson to go, and go now."

Party leader Sir Ed Davey added: "The Liberal Democrats have made political history with this stunning win. It is the biggest by-election victory our country has ever seen."

The Lib Dems also won by-elections in Chesham and Amersham and North Shropshire earlier this year, taking what had previously been safe Conservative seats.

A Conservative source called the result in Tiverton and Honiton "disappointing but not unexpected", telling the BBC the party was confident it could retake the seat at the next general election.

BBC

 

[Robert]

Boris seems to have rode the wave and survived , looks like it will be down to the British public to decide his fate in the next elections.

Good thing for Labour and LDs that he is. Tories are facing a hammering under him. If they change leader for someone honourable, Tories could still win another term.

 

[James]

BoJo on the brink.

These are huge losses they’ve suffered.

 

[silentkiller187]

Johnson: I will 'listen' to voters but 'keep going'

Boris Johnson has spoken for the first time since the by-election results came in.

The prime minister, who is in Rwanda for a Commonwealth summit, thanked Oliver Dowden after he resigned as Tory party co-chairman - but is ignoring calls to examine his own position.

Mr Johnson suggested Tory woes at the polls were largely down to the cost of living crisis, rather than various complaints against him as leader.

He said: "It's absolutely true we've had some tough by-election results, they've been I think a reflection of a lot of things but we've got to recognise voters are going through a tough time at the moment.

"I think as a government I've got to listen to what people are saying, in particular to the difficulties people are facing over the cost of living, which I think for most people is the number one issue.

"We're now facing pressures on the cost of living, we're seeing spikes in fuel prices, energy costs, food costs - that's hitting people.

"We've got to recognise there is more we've got to do and we certainly will, we will keep going, addressing the concerns of people until we get through this patch."

SKY

 

[Technics 1210]

BoJo on the brink.

These are huge losses they’ve suffered.

Huge losses in a couple of seats which at best are protest/tactical votes.

In the grander scheme Tories still hold a majority in HOP, and losing 1 or 2 seats is at best collateral damage.

 

[Robert]

BoJo on the brink.

These are huge losses they’ve suffered.

It was always likely that the Red Wall seat would be retaken by Labour, as the 2019 upset was a protest in favour of Brexit / against Corbyn as I understand it.

The South West appears to be turning Liberal again after the 2015-2019 blue tsunami. Holding Tiverton & Honiton at the next GE will be a struggle as the LDs can't pour 900 activists in from all over UK. But Somerset Unitary Council has gone Liberal so this could be a trend. St Ives, Cheltenham and Stroud will likely go back to yellow.

 

[James]

<b>PM: I will not undergo psychological transformation after poll defeat</b>

Boris Johnson has said a "psychological transformation" in his character is "not going to happen" after by-election defeats led to calls for change.

The PM was responding to Tory party chairman Oliver Dowden saying it could not be "business as usual" as he quit.

Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he "humbly and sincerely" accepts criticism.

But he said he also had to distinguish between "criticism that really matters and criticism that doesn't".

The by-election defeats in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton on Friday came after the prime minister faced months of criticism over parties in Downing Street during lockdown, alongside soaring inflation and a narrower-than-expected win in a confidence vote from his own MPs.

Speaking from the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Rwanda, Mr Johnson repeatedly said that policy was more important than allegations about his conduct.

Mr Johnson said voters were "fed up with hearing conversation about me" and wanted to focus instead on the cost of living, the economy and "standing up to violence and aggression" in Ukraine.

The PM was challenged by presenter Mishal Husain that a lot of the criticism had been about him personally and had come from people who had worked with him.

They included his top policy aide Munira Murza, who criticised Mr Johnson's "scurrilous allegation" about Jimmy Savile and Sir Keir Starmer; former minister Jesse Norman, who said the PM "presided over a culture of casual law-breaking"; and ethics adviser Lord Geidt.

But Mr Johnson said: "As a leader, you have to try to distinguish between the criticism that really matters and the criticism that doesn't."

Asked if there was any matter of principle he would consider resigning over, he said if he had to abandon Ukraine because it became too difficult or the costs were too great, he would quit.

He said that "of course" he regarded morality as a part of leadership.

But Mr Johnson was questioned about how he had not resigned over misleading the House of Commons, breaking the law for the Covid fine, or losing the support of 41% of his MPs in the confidence vote.

"Let's look at this in a more cheery way, if that's possible" he said. "Actually, what's happened is that I've got a renewed mandate from my colleagues, and I'm going to continue to deliver."

The prime minister did not engage with a question about the UK's top civil servant Simon Case having an informal conversation about job opportunities for his wife, Carrie.

"The worst thing I could do is get into conversations about my family," he said.

Asked about policies to ease the rising cost of living, Mr Johnson declined to offer a commitment to cut fuel duty further or remove VAT from energy bills.

"There may be more things we can do," he said, but he added that ministers are already "doing a huge amount with the fiscal firepower we have" and said the public understands the financial situation the government is in.

Tory backbencher Bob Neill told the BBC the prime minister's response to the by-election defeats was wrong.

"This is a genuine sense of growing frustration and growing alarm that the party is being taken down a track that will lead to it inevitably losing the next election," he said.

Criticism of Mr Johnson was not just about "personality", but whether his "character and adherence to the rules" were consistent with standards that Conservative voters in particular expect, Mr Neill said.

He said there was also "evidence of drift and lack of grip on economic issues", while "the highest rate of taxation for 40 years" was not an economic policy Conservatives would recognise.

The prime minister's interview comes as two Tory MPs critical of his record say they may stand for election to the committee that runs the party's leadership contests, with one saying he would be in favour of changing the rules to allow a second confidence vote.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who has joined the PM in Rwanda for the summit of Commonwealth leaders, said people often want to "send a message" to government in by-elections and the defeats were not necessarily a predictor of general election failure.

"It hasn't been the predictor in the past and I don't believe it will be the predictor of the next general election," she said.

Ahead of a meeting of G7 and Nato leaders, she also urged governments to continue to support Ukraine's "fight for freedom", saying any concessions to Russia would be "appalling".

At the summit in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, Mr Johnson also defended his government's policy of trying to deport asylum seekers to the east African nation.

Asked by the BBC by how much Channel crossings in small boats needed to be reduced for the policy to be considered a success, he said: "I'm not going to give you a figure."

He said it was a "humane policy" which was about "breaking the business model of those who criminally abuse and cheat people crossing the Channel in unseaworthy vessels."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61934851

 

[James]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Exclusive:<br><br>Boris Johnson planned to build a £150,000 treehouse at Chequers but was forced to abandon idea after police raised security concerns<br><br>Discussions were held about Tory donor Lord Brownlow funding the project in Autumn 2020<a href="https://t.co/54VwlkoY43">https://t.co/54VwlkoY43</a></p>— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) <a href="https://twitter.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1540563593103609857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Robert]

MSN reckons Tory backbenchers are pushing for a second referendum on Johnson.

The previous one wasn't coordinated, they said - the next one will be.

I'm in two minds: I want this dreadful excuse for a PM gone before he does yet more damage, but I also want him to lead the Tories into the next GE.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/boris-johnson-threatened-with-second-no-confidence-vote-as-tory-mps-poised-to-send-letters-demanding-new-poll/ar-AAYPEgM?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=ea49a6adf9cf455783d3a2a2eeadda8f#comments

 

[James]

<b>Johnson will lead Tories at next election, says Brandon Lewis</b>

Boris Johnson has the drive to keep going as PM, despite two by-election defeats for the Conservatives, cabinet minister Brandon Lewis says.

The PM is facing criticism after Thursday's losses of Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton but said he is planning for a third term in office.

Labour and the Lib Dems have urged him to resign and one Tory MP wants party rules to change so he can be ousted.

But Mr Lewis said the PM would lead the Tories past the next general election.

Thursday's by-elections followed months of criticism of Mr Johnson over Covid rule-breaking parties in Downing Street and came amid the highest rate of inflation in 40 years.

Labour took back Wakefield in West Yorkshire, which it had lost to the Tories in 2019, while the Lib Dems overturned a 24,000 Conservative majority to win Tiverton and Honiton, in Devon.

Following the defeats Tory party co-chairman Oliver Dowden resigned.

The by-election defeats have also led to increased criticism of Mr Johnson, who won a vote of confidence in his leadership among Tory MPs earlier this month, but with 41% saying they did not want him to continue.

On Friday former Conservative leader Lord Howard told the BBC that the prime minister should go.

But asked if he would like to serve a full second term in office, Mr Johnson said: "At the moment I'm thinking actively about the third term and what could happen then, but I will review that when I get to it."

Speaking to reporters in Kigali, Rwanda, where he has been at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the prime minister was asked to elaborate on his comment, replying that he was thinking "about a third term - mid 2030s".

Downing Street later suggested he had been joking.

Asked on BBC One's Sunday Morning programme if Mr Johnson's comments had been serious, Mr Lewis replied: "Yes, but let's be clear about what he is saying.

"We often as politicians, particularly when you're in government, get criticised for making decisions looking at the next week, the next election, the next year, and not looking long term"

"What I think is really good with this prime minister - and I see this every day - is his enthusiasm and drive to deliver for our country."

Mr Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, said Mr Johnson was "the person who will lead us successfully through the next general election".

He also took a swipe at Lord Howard, who was defeated by Labour leader Tony Blair at the 2005 general election.

"With all great respect to Michael Howard, who sadly wasn't able to win an election when he led our party, I think we have got somebody who has a proven record of winning elections, both as London mayor but also as prime minister in 2019," he said.

For Labour, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said the Conservatives had lost the by-elections because voters no longer had "faith, confidence, trust in Boris Johnson".

"They thought he lacked integrity and they didn't think that Boris Johnson was waking up every morning thinking about their concerns," he told Sunday Morning.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "People are very upset about our prime minister and they wanted to send a clear message to Conservative MPs that Boris Johnson has got to go."

Both opposition parties denied they had made any form of election pact to lend support to each other, after Liberal Democrats benefitted from a collapse in the Labour vote in Tiverton and Honiton, and Labour won after the Liberal Democrat vote slumped in Wakefield.

"You're seeing the voters work out for themselves who to get behind if they want to punish Boris Johnson," Mr Davey said.

Mr Lammy said: "We fight for every single seat. The British people do not want politicians to stitch up who wins an election in formal pacts.

"There will be no pacts with any political party before the next general election."

As several Labour MPs defied leader Sir Keir Starmer's warning not to join picket lines during the rail strike, Mr Lammy said he expected the chief whip would speak to them and remind them that "a serious party of government does not join picket lines".

He said the party had to be prepared to sit down with both striking workers and management to resolve disputes if it was to lead the country.

Conservative backbench MP Andrew Bridgen, a longstanding critic of Mr Johnson, confirmed he wanted the party's rules changed so the leader could face another vote of confidence within the next 12 months.

Under the current rules, Mr Johnson is technically safe from a challenge until next June.

"Boris Johnson is actually galvanising an anti-Boris Johnson vote," Mr Bridgen told the BBC.

"The leader of the party should normally be more popular than the party itself, but what we're seeing with Johnson is he's a huge drag on the ticket."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61942509

 

[Robert]

Westminster gossip holds that six Tory MPs are about to defect.

That would cut the Tory majority from 75 to 63.

 

[silentkiller187]

Boris Johnson has called questions over his leadership "political commentary" as rumours mount that a few of his own MPs are considering defecting to the Labour Party.

Asked about the reports, the prime minister told reporters that "these are matters for commentators".

Mr Johnson added that his job is to "get on with the agenda" his government has put in place.

"I think this really falls into the category of political commentary which I think I leave to distinguished journalists such as yourself," the PM told broadcasters.

Pressed further on his reference to "political commentary", Mr Johnson continued: "I think its my job to talk about our policies, what we are doing for the country, what's been going on at the G7.

"There are plenty of people that could offer their opinion on that."

Asked whether his premiership is over if lifelong Conservatives move over to Labour, the PM said: "There are plenty of people who can offer political commentary, that's what they're paid to do, leave it to them.

"My job is to get on and deliver the agenda we've got, it's a massive agenda, I'm very excited by it. We are making huge amount of progress on all sorts of fronts - I'm going to leave that to you."

Over the weekend The Sunday Times reported that the PM was facing three new threats to his leadership with MPs discussing defections, fresh letters of no confidence being sent and mutinous cabinet ministers considering whether to move against him.

Speaking to broadcasters yesterday from Germany, the prime minister said doubts over his premiership are now "settled" after he survived a confidence vote "a couple of weeks ago".

On Monday, George Eustice told Sky News that Mr Johnson still has the support of his cabinet despite one of his top team resigning last week.

"We have the support of the prime minister. The prime minister has our support," the environment secretary said.

"We work together and, you know, we stick together through difficult times."

It came after the PM said he was confident of winning the next election and was "thinking actively" about a third term, despite recent political turmoil.

"I am thinking actively about the third term and what could happen then. But I will review that when I get to it," Mr Johnson told reporters on the final day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, at the weekend.

A Downing Street source later suggested he may have been joki

Last week the Tories lost their former stronghold of Tiverton and Honiton to the Liberal Democrats and the red wall seat of Wakefield to Labour.

The electoral beatings have reignited questions within the Conservative Party over Mr Johnson's leadership.

Standing down as Tory co-chairman in the wake of the losses early on Friday morning, Oliver Dowden said he and Conservative supporters were "distressed and disappointed by recent events" and told Mr Johnson that "someone must take responsibility".

Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis acknowledged the party had suffered "a bad set of results" but said Mr Johnson is "the right person to take us into the next general election".

Labour has challenged the Conservatives to call an early general election, with leader Sir Keir Starmer telling Mr Johnson to: "Bring it on."

SKY

 

[MenInG]

The investigation into whether Boris Johnson deliberately misled parliament over the partygate scandal has begun with a call for evidence - and individuals will be allowed to contribute to the inquiry anonymously.

Labour veteran Harriet Harman, currently the longest-serving female MP, has been selected to chair the probe which will be conducted by the House of Commons privileges committee.

 

[James]

Another inquiry!


<b>Boris Johnson's 40 new hospitals pledge faces watchdog review</b>

The Conservatives' 2019 election pledge to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 faces a review by the government's spending watchdog.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting asked for an investigation into delays surrounding the programme and warned of taxpayers' money being wasted.

The National Audit Office (NAO) intends to conduct a "value for money review" later this year, its comptroller said.

Mr Streeting accused the Tories of "overpromising and underdelivering".

The 2019 Conservatives' manifesto said:

"We will build and fund 40 new hospitals over the next 10 years."

Boris Johnson repeated this promise, and has spoken of "40 more hospitals".

However, a "new" hospital has not been defined as solely a new construction.

See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62025410

 

[James]

<b>BREAKING</B>

• Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid have both quit Boris Johnson's cabinet, piling severe pressure onto the PM.

• Sunak says in his letter that the public expect "government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously".

• Health Secretary Javid meanwhile tells the PM he can "no longer, in good conscience, continue serving in this government".

• Both men quit after Johnson apologised for knowingly appointing a Tory MP to his government who had faced allegations of sexual misconduct.

• Tory party vice-chair Bim Afolami quits live on TV but many in the Cabinet express support for the PM.

• Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says it's "clear the government is now collapsing" and says he would back an early election.

• The PM won a vote of confidence in his leadership last month though faced a big rebellion.

• He is protected from a further vote for a year - but some MPs have called for the rules to be changed to oust him.

 

[JaDed]

Boris is 10 times the politician Sunak and Javid will ever be, good or bad doesn't matter as the point is on being a politician.

 

[Technics 1210]

No Boris, do not surrender to the lefty liberal hypocrites!

Stand your ground!

 

[MenInG]

Change to no confidence rules could happen today

The 1922 Committee - which consists of backbench Conservative MPs - could change its rules today to allow a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson, according to a veteran Tory parliamentarian.

Mr Johnson survived a vote last month, and under the current rules there needs to be 12 months before another vote.

However, Sir Roger Gale - first elected to parliament in 1983 - said the rules could change today, although he does not know if it will happen.

He says that while he was not in favour of changings the rules previously, he feels it is necessary now as Mr Johnson is refusing to resign.

"We do have to change the rules," Sir Roger says.

"I don't like it because that is what the prime minister chooses to do on occasions.

"But I think we're going to have to do it."

Sir Roger was saying a similar thing last night, and the calls for a rule change have come from others within the party too.

An election is set to be held for new members of the 1922 Committee's executive - nominations close today and the vote will likely be next week.

Chris Loder, a 2019 new entry to the Conservative benches, told the BBC's Today Programme: "I have no idea who’s going to stand, I suspect we will hear a little bit more about that over the next day or so.

"I certainly think now that those who stand for the 1922 Committee executive should consider [a rule change] now."

SKY

 

[Technics 1210]

A travesty! Changing the rules to oust the PM, this is akin to Pakistan politics!

 

[MenInG]

We've had two more government resignations this morning, taking the total to 12.

Let's recap who has resigned from where:

Cabinet ministers

Rishi Sunak - chancellor
Sajid Javid - health secretary
Ministers

Will Quince - minister for children and families
Alex Chalk - solicitor general
Ministerial aides

Laura Trott - parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the Transport secretary
Jonathan Gullis - PPS to the Northern Ireland secretary
Saqib Bhatti - PPS to the Health secretary
Nicola Richards - PPS to the Department for Transport
Virginia Crosbie - PPS at the Welsh office
Others

Bim Afolami - vice-chair of the Conservative Party
Theo Clarke - trade envoy to Kenya
Andrew Murrison - trade envoy to Morocco
It's worth remembering that between 160 and 170 MPs currently hold positions from which they'd have to resign in order to oppose the government.

That includes 95 ministers, 47 PPSs, and 20 Conservative trade envoys, according to the Institute for Government.

BBC

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With great sadness and regret, I have this morning tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister after I accepted and repeated assurances on Monday to the media which have now been found to be inaccurate. <br><br>I wish my successor well - it is the best job in government. <a href="https://t.co/65EOmHd47p">pic.twitter.com/65EOmHd47p</a></p>— Will Quince MP &#55356;&#56812;&#55356;&#56807; (@willquince) <a href="https://twitter.com/willquince/status/1544583312353673217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Robert]

At some point this week, I expect the 1922 Chairman to hand Johnson the metaphorical pearl-handle revolver - either step down, or face a rule change and be forced out.

 

[MenInG]

Another minister resigns

John Glen, the economic secretary to the treasury, has resigned.

In a post on his social media, he said the handling of the Chris Pincher scandal and "poor judgement" shown by Boris Johnson, "have made it impossible for me to square continued service with my conscience".

He adds: "The country deserves better, and I must return to the backbenchers myself to the service of the people of Salisbury and South Wiltshire."

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It is with great sadness that I have tendered my resignation today as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Please find my resignation letter below. <a href="https://t.co/SbBqNGO5Pn">pic.twitter.com/SbBqNGO5Pn</a></p>— Felicity Buchan MP (@FelicityBuchan) <a href="https://twitter.com/FelicityBuchan/status/1544623549213810689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

MP submits no confidence letter in Johnson

Tory MP Tom Hunt, formerly a loyal supporter of Boris Johnson, has submitted a letter of no confidence in the prime minister.

 

[MenInG]

Another minister resigns

Victoria Atkins has resigned as justice minister.

In her letter she says: "Values such as integrity, decency, respect and professionalism should matter to us all.

"I have watched with growing concern as those values have fractured under your leadership, through Patterson, Partygate and Pincher".

She adds: "The events of this week, however, have made these contortions impossible."

 

[James]

At some point this week, I expect the 1922 Chairman to hand Johnson the metaphorical pearl-handle revolver - either step down, or face a rule change and be forced out.

Ministers and aides dropping like flies now. I think the PM will have resigned by the end of the week. It could even happen today.

 

[James]

A travesty! Changing the rules to oust the PM, this is akin to Pakistan politics!

Proper palace coup this.

 

[MenInG]

PM Questions in Parliament coming up soon.

 

[Robert]

Proper palace coup this.

The systems of our political parties are not set up to cope with people like Johnson, or indeed Corbyn, who only obey their own rules.

 

[James]

The systems of our political parties are not set up to cope with people like Johnson, or indeed Corbyn, who only obey their own rules.

I would go further. We need to learn from his tenure and agree on the text of a national written constitution in order to secure our future. A lot of our power structures are too vulnerable because they operate on honouring conventions and gentlemen’s verbal agreements.

 

[Robert]

I would go further. We need to learn from his tenure and agree on the text of a national written constitution in order to secure our future. A lot of our power structures are too vulnerable because they operate on honouring conventions and gentlemen’s verbal agreements.

Concur 100%

Written constitution codifying the powers of executive, Parliament, courts and sovereign. Elected upper house. PR a must.

 

[MenInG]

Boris Johnson has pledged to "keep going" as prime minister despite 17 MPs resigning from his government.

Asked at Prime Minister's Questions by fellow Conservative Tom Loughton if there were "any circumstances in which he should resign", Mr Johnson said he would if he "felt it was impossible.. to go on" as a government.

But he added: "The job of a prime minister in difficult circumstances when he has been handed a colossal mandate is to keep going, and that's what I am going to do."

The resignations began after No 10 admitted Mr Johnson had known about allegations against disgraced MP Chris Pincher and a subsequent investigation, but had forgotten.

Mr Pincher resigned last week after further allegations about him groping two men at a private club last Wednesday. He was then suspended from the Conservative Party.

Former senior civil servant Lord McDonald said on Tuesday morning Mr Johnson had known about the 2019 allegations and accused him of lying when he said he did not. He said the claims were "similar" to those from last week.

Less than 12 hours later, Rishi Sunak resigned as chancellor and Sajid Javid quit as health secretary on Tuesday night.

That prompted a flurry of resignations from government as Tory MPs said they could no longer support a leader who has lied, plunging the PM into further crisis.

SKY

 

[James]

Surely it is now a simple case of Sir Graham Brady heading over to Number 10 flanked by a small delegation and doing Option A resign voluntarily tonight, or Option B we will change the rules and sling you out in disgrace tomorrow. This is what happened with Theresa May. It’s over.

 

[Manunited18]

Sajid Javeds speech surely is a final dagger in to Johnson's aspirations to carry on as PM.

 

[MenInG]

Sajid Javeds speech surely is a final dagger in to Johnson's aspirations to carry on as PM.

Question must be asked - why did he wait so long?

 

[MenInG]

More ministerial resignations

While PMQs and the subsequent statement were taking place, more people resigned form Boris Johnson's government.

Environment Minister Jo Churchill and Housing Minister Stuart Andrew both released letters.

Mr Andrew said: "Loyalty and unity are traits that I have always endeavoured to provide for our great party.

"However, I fear I have let these override my judgement recently.

"There comes a time when you have to look at your own personal integrity and that time is now.

"Therefore, given recent events I have no other choice to resign.

"Our party, particularly our members and more importantly our great country, deserve better."

Ms Churchill said: "Recent events have shown integrity, competence, and judgement are all essential to the role of prime minister, while a jocular self-serving approach is bound to have its limitations."

She adds: "The country and party deserve better and so with a heavy heart I have decided to resign."

 

[Manunited18]

Question must be asked - why did he wait so long?

Well there comes a time when enough is enough. Johnson continues to tell porkies even after giving assurances from his previous scandals, and you do feel both Sunak and Javed had enough.

 

[Pakpak]

About time

Absolutely deserved.

I hope Labour somehow gets rid of Starmer too but for now Johnson will do