UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face a vote of confidence in his leadership, after a number of Conservative MPs submitted letters saying they no longer wanted him to carry on.
Boris Johnson will face a vote of confidence. Photo: AFP
The move follows revelations about lockdown-breaking parties in and around Downing Street.
To trigger a leadership challenge in the Conservative Party, at least 15 percent of sitting MPs have to write a letter saying they no longer have any confidence in the prime minister. Given that there are currently 359 Conservative MPs, this works out as 54 MPs.
These letters are sent to Sir Graham Brady, the current chairman of the 1922 Committee - the parliamentary group representing all backbench Conservative MPs.
Sir Graham has now said the threshold has been reached and the vote will take place on Monday evening - 6pm UK time and 5am on Tuesday morning in New Zealand.
Sir Graham said the votes would be counted immediately afterwards.
He said he informed Johnson yesterday and they agreed to hold the vote as soon as possible.
Asked when the threshold was passed, Sir Graham said some Tory MPs "asked specifically that it should not be until the end of the Jubilee celebrations".
Pressed on whether MPs post-dated their letters to ensure there was no distraction from the Jubilee, Sir Graham admitted "that is not a bad description of events".
What happens in a no-confidence vote?
This is a secret ballot and to win, Johnson would need to secure a simple majority.
Currently, this means he would have to gain 180 votes (half his MPs, plus one) - assuming every Conservative MP casts a vote and nobody abstains.
If Johnson lost, there would be a leadership contest and he would be barred from standing.
If he won, he would be immune from another no-confidence vote for a year.
However, a small majority can also tip the balance.
If Johnson won by only a few votes, it might persuade him to think twice about whether he had enough backing in Parliament.
Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, won a no-confidence vote by 200-117 votes in December 2018.
It was large enough to keep her in office but it showed that more than a third of Conservative MPs did not want her as leader. She announced her resignation six months later.
How is a new leader chosen?
If Johnson resigned, the 1922 Committee would decide the procedure and set the timetable for a leadership contest.
Leadership candidates need the support of eight fellow Tory MPs - a proposer, a seconder and six others.
If more than two candidates stand, there will be a series of ballots:
- in the first round, candidates must attract 5 percent of the votes to stay in the running (18 MPs)
- in the second round, they must attract 10 percent (36 MPs)
- in each subsequent round, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated
- when two MPs are left, Conservative Party members around the country will vote
The two candidates in the run-off would be expected to take part in debates to put their cases forward to members before the final voting deadline.
If all but one of the candidates withdraw (as happened when Theresa May became leader in 2016), the remaining candidate becomes Conservative Party leader.
Unless there is a general election, the winner of any Tory leadership contest would become prime minister.
This happens formally when the Queen appoints them.
- BBC