Boris Johnson leadership: ‘We’re looking at a summer of discontent’

People across the country 'want this Prime Minister gone'

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey has said the country is looking at a "summer of discontent" after the Prime Minister fended off a leadership challenge on Monday evening. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, the MP for Kingston and Surbiton said his party were tabling their own vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson today, because people across the country "want this Prime Minister gone". On Monday evening, Boris Johnson narrowly survived a vote of no confidence in his leadership, meaning he will continue on as Prime Minister and party leader. Voting in a secret ballot, MPs decided 211-148 to keep Johnson in place following weeks of political turmoil surrounding the partygate scandal. The process had been triggered after more than 54 MPs, or 15 per cent of the parliamentary party, sent letters to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the Tory backbench 1922 committee. It means the Prime Minister is safe from a future leadership challenge for the next 12 months, although some Tories have suggested that the rules could be changed to allow another vote within that period. Former defence minister and backbench rebel Tobias Ellwood told Sky News on Tuesday morning that he understands the 1922 executive committee are now looking at changing the party rules to allow another confidence vote within the next year. While Johnson is arithmetically safe, it's understood Number 10 were hoping to cap the figure under 100 votes. With 40% of his party declaring no confidence in his leadership, the PM will be waking up bruised on Tuesday morning. Related Links

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