Boris Johnson will face a confidence vote tonight after dozens of Tory MPs withdrew support for his leadership in the wake of the Sue Gray report into lockdown parties in Number 10.
The Prime Minister was informed on Sunday that he would face the vote after Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, confirmed he had received the 54 letters from Conservative MPs needed to trigger the ballot.
The vote – by secret ballot – will take place at Westminster on Monday between 6pm and 8pm, with the count to take place immediately afterwards.
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A steady stream of Tory MPs called publicly for the Prime Minister to stand down in the wake the Gray report, but discontent goes far wider, covering the Mr Johnson's economic policies which have seen the tax burden reach the highest in 70 years, as well as his style of leadership.
Below is everything you need to know on tonight's vote and what could happen next.
What are the Conservative rules for a vote of no confidence?
A total of 54 letters of no confidence from Tory MPs, 15% of the parliamentary party, were needed to trigger the vote.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs has received a steady stream of letters in recent days as Tories spent time in their constituencies consulting local parties about their position.
He announced on Monday morning that the threshold had been reached.
What happens next?
At least 50% of Tory MPs, 180, must vote “no confidence” for the Prime Minister to lose.
If Mr Johnson survives, another vote cannot be triggered for a year.
But even if Mr Johnson does 'win' tonight, his leadership could be fatally undermined if a significant number of MPs vote against him.
For context, Theresa May was backed by 200 out of 317 MPs in a confidence vote in 2018 but only survived a further six months.
How does a Tory leadership contest work?
If Mr Johnson is voted out or forced to resign, a leadership contest to replace him as the head of the Tory Party would take place – although he is likely to remain in post as Prime Minister until a successor is in place.
The contest takes place in two stages.
In the first stage, Conservative MPs put themselves forward as candidates.
All Tory MPs then vote in a series of rounds to reduce the number of candidates until only two remain.
The second stage of the contest sees the two remaining candidates put to a vote of Conservative Party members.
Mr Johnson won the leadership contest in 2019 against Jeremy Hunt, following Theresa May’s resignation.
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