Boris Johnson will find out if his party still backs him
(Picture: AP)Boris Johnson’s political future – as leader of the Conservative Party and as Prime Minister – is on the line.
The threshold of 54 Tory MPs requesting a confidence vote has been passed, and all 359 will be balloted this evening. He requires a majority of 180 to stay in power, although if it is a close vote he may yet find his position compromised.
It follows an embarrassing weekend for the Prime Minister where among all the positivity of the Jubilee celebrations he found himself cast in the role of the pantomime villain. His appearances, alongside wife Carrie, received boos from some of the royalists in attendance. The Johnsons also had to watch from the audience as comedian Lee Mack made a ‘party’ and ‘gate’ jibe, in another of the weekend’s talking points.
Boris Johnson has written to his party’s MPs asking for their support when it comes to the vote: “Tonight is the moment to draw a line under the issues our opponents want us to talk about — and to focus instead on what really matters: the needs of the voters who sent us to Westminster.”
Without the resounding backing from his own party, there’s little chance the public and the media will put the matter behind them.
Is it time for Boris to go? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below for the chance to be featured on the ES website tomorrow.
Last week we asked: What do you think of TfL considering cutting 78 London bus routes?
Standard reader SidLittle commented: “I think it’s extremely worrying that the Tories’ ideological opposition to a Labour mayor has resulted in the poorest Londoners suffering as a direct consequence of their refusal to properly fund TfL even though the current financial situation was caused largely by decisions taken by the PM when he was mayor.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also came in for criticism. westhamlinnet said Khan has “ruined” the “iconic” bus routes. Thehand says it’s an “utter disgrace” as the buses are a “life line” for people just to get their shopping home. ParisTexas says affected areas of south London don’t have adequete Tube alternatives.
PenJames also shared their thoughts: “I wonder how all the shoppers waiting at 24 bus stop outside Sainsbury in Pimlico are going to get their food and groceries home if their bus route is axed.”
