Vote Of No Confidence Against Boris Johnson Officially Triggered

A vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson will go ahead this evening, with Tory MPs set to decide whether or not to oust the Prime Minister.

In the UK, a vote of no confidence occurs when 15 percent of the ruling party’s members write to the chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, to request the move.

Brady has confirmed the ballot will be held tonight (6 June), saying in a statement: "The threshold of 15 percent of the parliamentary party seeking a vote of confidence in the leader of the Conservative Party has been exceeded.

“In accordance with the rules, a ballot will be held between 1800 and 2000 TODAY MONDAY 6th JUNE — details to be confirmed.

Alamy

“The votes will be counted immediately afterwards. An announcement will be made at a time to be advised. Arrangements for the announcement will be released later today."

If a majority of Conservatives vote against the PM, he will be forced to step down from his position and MPs from across the party can then be nominated as potential replacement candidates.

Speaking about the no confidence vote, a spokeswoman for 10 Downing Street said: “Tonight is a chance to end months of speculation and allow the Government to draw a line and move on, delivering on the people’s priorities.

“The PM welcomes the opportunity to make his case to MPs 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.”

Johnson has faced mounting pressure to resign following his handling of the Partygate scandal.

Last month, Sue Gray's damning report on the matter was made public, detailing a series of alleged parties at Downing Street that took place during lockdown in the UK.

The report states: "I have already commented in my update on what I found to be failures of leadership and judgment in No 10 and the Cabinet Office.

Sue Gray Report

"The events that I investigated were attended by leaders in government. Many of these events should not have been allowed to happen.

"It is also the case that some of the more junior civil servants believed that their involvement in some of these events was permitted given the attendance of senior leaders.

"The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture."