But on paper the prime minister is technically safe as Tory leader and cannot be forced out under current Conservative rules. That’s because Mr Johnson has already survived a no-confidence vote last month. 41 per cent of Tory MPs voted against him, but he needed a majority to force him to resign. Under the existing rules, there can no longer be a new vote of no confidence for a year – the matter has been officially settled. The hope from those who have resigned in the last 36 hours is that Mr Johnson will realize that the game is up and resign from his job of his own free will. But the prime minister has a reputation for brazen scandal-mongering, so his critics in the Tory party have a back-up plan if he doesn’t go voluntarily. If Johnson doesn’t quit, they’ll just change the rules of the game to force him out. They are confident they could win a second vote of no confidence. The Conservative party ruling committee of 1922 is the key here. The committee’s executive member is re-elected every time there is a Queen’s speech and a new one is expected to be in place next week. The governing body consists of 18 members in total, including six officers. This includes a president, two vice-presidents, two executive secretaries and a treasurer. The first meeting to inaugurate the new executive will be next Wednesday, with the first chance to change the rules next week.
UK’s Johnson vows to stay in power after top ministers resign Show all 2
1/2 UK’s Johnson vows to stay in power after top ministers resign
UK’s Johnson vows to stay in power after top ministers resign
British politics
British politics
UK’s Johnson vows to stay in power after top ministers resign
British politics
British politics This means the vote on Mr Johnson’s ouster could be taken before MPs leave Westminster for their summer break on July 21. MPs critical of Mr Johnson are already organizing around the rule change and given the number of resignations are confident they could amend the standing orders to allow the party leader to be removed. It is not clear exactly what the rules will change, but they will likely be amended in a way that makes it possible for a new vote of no confidence against the prime minister. Would the vote of no confidence by Tory MPs be any different than last month? It seems likely. The result for Mr Johnson in June was already poor by the standards of previous leaders, who resigned due to better support levels. But in the last 36 hours MPs who had openly supported the prime minister turned against him and said the current situation could not continue. There will be no shortage of MPs who will vote against him, even on a pragmatic basis to put an end to the unrest
