Boris Johnson: Tory rebels are urged to rally round PM ‘for the good of the nation’

Tory rebels were last night ordered to abandon their attempts to oust Boris Johnson for the sake of the country.

Cabinet ministers rallying around the Prime Minister warned plotters that a challenge to his leadership would fail.

Under Conservative Party rules, Mr Johnson will face a confidence vote among Tory MPs if 54 write to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 committee, demanding one be held. The PM’s critics would then need more than half of the party’s MPs to back removing him.

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Tory rebels were last night ordered to abandon their attempts to oust Boris Johnson for the sake of the country. Pictured: The Prime Minister is seen on Friday in Stockton-on-Tees

Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said yesterday he does not believe the rebels have the numbers to call a confidence vote. He told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: ‘I don’t think it is in the interests of the country, I don’t think it is in the interests of the Conservative Party.

‘I don’t think it is in anybody’s interest… No, I don’t think we will see that happen.’

It comes as Mr Johnson’s allies believe Jeremy Hunt, who was beaten in the 2019 Tory leadership race, is on manoeuvres. The former foreign secretary has not ruled out a return to frontline politics, but has said now is not the time for a leadership change.

Asked whether Mr Johnson’s position was in jeopardy if the Conservatives lose next month’s Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton by-elections, Mr Lewis replied: ‘No, I don’t think so. I equally don’t think we will lose [them].’

The Government yesterday rejected suggestions that ministers and civil servants persuaded Sue Gray to water down her report into lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.

According to The Sunday Times, ‘tweaks’ were made on the eve of publication in relation to the so-called Abba party in the Prime Minister’s flat on November 13, 2020. But Mr Lewis said he did not ‘recognise’ the reports. Asked on Sky News whether he could vouch that pressure was not placed on Miss Gray, he said: ‘I’m absolutely confident that’s the case.’

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Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said yesterday he does not believe the rebels have the numbers to call a confidence vote

Mr Johnson’s allies believe Jeremy Hunt (pictured), who was beaten in the 2019 Tory leadership race, is on manoeuvres. The former foreign secretary has not ruled out a return to frontline politics, but has said now is not the time for a leadership change 

A Cabinet Office spokesman added: ‘As with all such investigation reports, the process of obtaining formal representations from those perceived to be criticised prior to publication took place. This is an appropriate and usual process in such matters.’ Meanwhile, there was fevered speculation Tory backbenchers are thinking about who could replace Mr Johnson after it emerged at least 16 MPs dined together last week.

As revealed in The Mail on Sunday, the group was brought together by Mel Stride, the Tory chairman of the Treasury committee. However, he denied the meeting involved any plotting and pointed out the gathering was addressed by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. A source close to Mr Stride said: ‘Grant ran Boris’s leadership campaign and is about as loyal as anyone gets.’

Former Cabinet minister David Davis last night told LBC that he believed the ‘last chance saloon’ for changing leader would come after the party’s annual conference in October.