Conservative MPs began casting their ballots in a no-confidence vote in Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which could end in his immediate removal as party leader and signal the end of his time in power. The vote’s result is expected around an hour after voting ends at 8pm local time (1900 GMT).
"The threshold of 15% of the parliamentary party seeking a vote of confidence in the leader of the Conservative Party has been exceeded," the chairman of the 1922 Committee Graham Brady wrote earlier on Monday in a note to Conservative lawmakers.
"In accordance with the rules, a ballot will be held between 1800 and 2000 today Monday 6th June – details to be confirmed. The votes will be counted immediately afterwards. An announcement will be made at a time to be advised."
If Johnson loses the vote among the 359 Conservative lawmakers, the party will choose a new leader, who will also become prime minister. If he wins, he can’t face another challenge for a year under current party rules.
While Johnson has weathered many political storms, he has recently struggled to turn the page on months of ethics scandals, most notably over rule-breaking parties in government buildings during Covid-19 lockdowns.
Revelations that the prime minister and his staff repeatedly flouted restrictions they imposed on Britain in 2020 and 2021 have fueled outrage in the country. The scandal is now known as “Partygate”.
PM ‘welcomes’ vote
The vote of confidence will provide a chance to end months of speculation about the prime minister’s leadership, a spokesperson for Johnson said.
"The PM welcomes the opportunity to make his case to MPs (members of parliament) and will remind them that when they're united and focused on the issues that matter to voters there is no more formidable political force."
Opinion polls have shown deep public disapproval over the scandal, with large majorities of people saying Johnson knowingly lied about "Partygate" and that he should resign.
Late last month an investigator’s report on “Partygate” slammed a culture of rule-breaking inside the prime minister’s Downing Street office.
Civil service investigator Sue Gray described alcohol-fueled bashes held by Downing Street staff members at a time when pandemic restrictions prevented UK residents from socialising or even visiting dying relatives.
Gray said the “senior leadership team” must bear responsibility for “failures of leadership and judgment”.
The prime minister said he was “humbled” and took “full responsibility” — but insisted he would not resign. He urged Britons to “move on” and focus on Britain’s battered economy and the war in Ukraine.
Truss, Sunak back Johnson in confidence vote
British Foreign Minister Liz Truss said she was backing Johnson in the confidence vote and “encouraged” lawmakers from their Conservative Party to support him.
"The Prime Minister has my 100% backing in today's vote and I strongly encourage colleagues to support him," Truss said on Twitter.
"He has delivered on Covid recovery and supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. He has apologised for mistakes made. We must now focus on economic growth."
Truss has been considered a potential successor to Johnson.
British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak also said he backed Johnson's leadership ahead of the confidence vote.
"From the vaccine rollout to our response to Russian aggression, the PM has shown the strong leadership our country needs," Sunak said on Twitter.
"I am backing him today and will continue to back him as we focus on growing the economy, tackling the cost of living and clearing the Covid backlogs."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
