TORY MPs clashed today with more understood to have sent in letters of no confidence in Boris Johnson, but loyalists rallied around him and slammed the plotters as “kids”.
A growing number of Conservative MPs from the 2019 intake are understood to have written to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories, in a bid to trigger a vote in the PM’s leadership over the “Partygate” furore.
However, the party is split with loyalist MPs defending the Prime Minister, attacking the “kids” seeking to topple him and stressing the success of the Covid jabs roll-out.
Amid the political frenzy at Westminster, speculation was swirling that at least one “Red Wall” Conservative MP might defect. He has been in talks with the Labour party to defect since the “Partygate” scandal broke, sources said.
The threat to Mr Johnson is partly coming from a group of MPs known as the “Pork Pie” plotters, as they were said to involve Melton Mowbray MP Alicia Kearns.
Unconfirmed reports suggested around half, about 10, of the “Pork Pie” group have submitted letters by this morning. But only Sir Graham knows the true figure. If it reaches 54, it would trigger a confidence vote in Mr Johnson.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
"We're building a Spurs squad to compete now. This is not a project for five years time
BACK in December, in the run up to Christmas, Tottenham's technical director Johan Lange travelled to Stockholm on a special assignment. Lange's mission was to persuade Lucas Bergvall, one of the most exciting young players in Europe, to visit Spurs in the New Year.
England's breakthrough star faces biggest challenge yet
Pakistan, the Ashes and fatherhood now lie in wait for Jamie Smith
Bizarre search results, battles in court - is it game over for Google?
RICHARD GODWIN asks if time could finally be running out for the all-powerful behemoth
Finneas
He's won Grammys and Oscars, but his proudest achievement? His relationship with his sister... Billie Eilish
Has this legend of the London restaurant scene lost its cool?
Once upon a time —not so long ago, less than a decade — being a D&D restaurant meant something. Back then, Le Pont de la Tour and Coq d’ Argent were governed by swathes of the most moneyed City regulars; Sartoria offered a hangout on Savile Row as stylish as any of its neighbouring tailors; and Quaglino’s, until recently, was the place mere mortals were most likely to bump into Prince Harry or Mick Jagger.
Message to the Jews
Beware your liberal values those you see as allies are the vultures waiting for your demise
Are these the 18 ways that we could transform London?
The capital could actually be good, but we need some radical new rules
Change or die... London's eternal lesson to us all
Like the city it serves, the new Standard must build on the best of the past
The Tories are their own unique brand of special
Like Republicans, they're on a journey, but it couldn't be more different
Plane truths...the world's most loved and loathed airlines
From endless delays and frightening mishaps to delightful cabin crew, the differences between airlines can be astonishing. So which ones rule the air and which dontimpress?