Labour will today push to hold a no confidence vote in the government to remove Boris Johnson from Number 10 and potentially trigger a general election.
The party wants the vote to take place in the Commons tomorrow, rather than allowing the prime minister to stay in post while the Conservatives elect a new leader.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer first revealed he wanted to seek such a vote last week after Mr Johnson was forced to announce his departure from Downing Street following a raft of ministerial resignations over his handling of disgraced MP Chris Pincher.
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At the time, opposition parties, including the SNP and Liberal Democrats, revealed they would back the vote, and if it passed, it could see Mr Johnson removed from office and a general election could potentially be triggered.
Today, Labour sources said they would relish a national ballot, but their aim was to secure the prime minister’s immediate exit from Number 10.
However, to get the numbers in Parliament for the move to succeed, they would need the support of some Tory MPs.
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A number of Conservatives spoke out last week about Mr Johnson remaining in charge while his successor is chosen and did call for his removal.
But now the backbench 1922 committee has confirmed its timetable for the leadership election, with a new PM set to be named on 5 September, dissenting voices have grown quieter, meaning Labour is unlikely to win any confidence vote.
That hasn’t stopped them from calling members of Mr Johnson’s party “total hypocrites” though.
A Labour source said: “There are plenty of Tory MPs who’ve said Johnson should be gone.
“What’s their reason for now saying he should stay in office for ten weeks? When nothing can get done and further scandals keep coming out? Are they really going to vote to say it’s ok for him to stay?”
Sky News is hosting a live TV debate with the contenders vying to be the next leader of the Conservative party and therefore prime minister, and you could be in the virtual audience.
The debate will take place on Monday 18 July hosted by Sky News presenter Kay Burley.
If you would like to be a member of the virtual audience and be in with a chance of asking a question, please email [email protected].
