UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face a confidence vote on Monday night after dozens of Conservative Party MPs withdrew their support for his leadership.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, confirmed that he had received the 54 letters from Conservative politicians needed to trigger a vote.
The vote – by secret ballot – will take place at Westminster on Monday between 6pm and 8pm, with the count to take place immediately afterwards.
To oust the Prime Minister, however, the rebels will need 180 MPs. Allies of Mr Johnson made it clear that he is determined to fight to stay on.
Critics of Mr Johnson have seized on the Sue Gray report into lockdown-busting parties and the Prime Minister’s response to it as the trigger for submitting letters calling for a vote.
But discontent within the Conservative Party runs far wider, with concerns about the burden of taxation and Mr Johnson’s style of leadership also causing unease.
What are the Conservative rules for a vote of no confidence?
Fifty-four letters of no confidence from Conservative MPs, 15 per cent of the parliamentary party, were needed to trigger the vote.
Mr Brady has received a steady stream of letters in recent days as MPs spent time in their constituencies consulting local parties about their position.
He announced on Monday morning that the threshold had been reached.
Mr Brady said he had informed Mr Johnson on Sunday that the threshold of 15 per cent of the parliamentary party calling for a vote had been passed.
“I have followed the rules that we have in place. I notified the Prime Minister yesterday and we agreed the timetable for the confidence vote to take place,” he said.
“He shared my view, which is also in line with the rules that we have in place, that that vote should happen as soon as it could reasonably take place and that would be today.”
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has survived an attempt by Tory MPs to oust him in a vote of confidence. PA -
Boris Johnson leaves the Houses of Parliament after the vote. Tory MPs voted by 211 to 148 in the secret ballot in Westminster. EPA -
Sir Graham Brady, Chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, announces the result of the vote. PA -
A police officer patrols Downing Street on Monday. The vote of no confidence marked the most serious challenge yet to Mr Johnson's three-year tenure as prime minister. EPA -
A protester holds up an anti Boris Johnson placard outside Parliament in London. EPA -
Boris Johnson leaves from the back entrance of No 10 Downing Street. Reuters -
A broadcast journalist at work on College Green outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Getty Images -
British Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady speaks to members of the media announcing the decision to hold a vote of no confidence, outside of the Houses of Parliament. Reuters -
John Penrose, the prime minister's anti-corruption official who resigned, claiming it is 'pretty clear' that Boris Johnson broke the Ministerial Code, speaks to the media on College Green in central London. PA -
Boris Johnson reads the long-awaited report by senior civil servant Sue Gray into the Downing Street party scandal. Photo: Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street -
A gathering in the Cabinet Room at No 10 Downing Street on Mr Johnson's birthday. Photo: Cabinet Office -
Mr Johnson during a gathering held while lockdown rules were in force across the UK. Photo: Cabinet Office -
Another gathering at No 10 Downing Street to mark the departure of a special adviser. Photo: Cabinet Office -
Mr Johnson apologises to MPs in the House of Commons in April, having been fined after a police probe for attending a party during coronavirus lockdowns imposed by his own government. AFP -
Mr Johnson was no more than 30 seconds into his speech when the first shout of 'resign' was heard from the opposition benches, followed by 'you’re an embarrassment' and 'just go'. Reuters -
'I take this opportunity on the first available sitting day to repeat my wholehearted apology to the House,' he said, admitting that 'people had a right to expect better of their prime minister'. AFP -
The prime minister, pictured with a birthday cake baked for him by school staff at Bovingdon Primary Academy in Hemel Hempstead, said it ‘didn't occur’ to him that a gathering on June 19, 2020 to mark his 56th birthday broke coronavirus rules. AFP -
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, left, was also fined for attending lockdown parties held in and around Downing Street. AFP -
Mr Johnson is the first sitting prime minister to be censured for breaking the law, sparking calls from all sides of Parliament, including some in his own party, to step down. Reuters -
A lone protester demonstrates at Downing Street in London. EPA -
Before the war broke out in Ukraine, Mr Johnson appeared vulnerable to the Partygate controversy. He has been praised for his response to the conflict, which may offer him some protection from critics, and he visited Kyiv in what he called a show of support for the country. AFP -
Mr Johnson and his wife Carrie applaud health workers outside No 10 Downing Street in May 2020. Getty -
Mr Johnson makes a statement in the House of Commons in January on a report regarding the Downing Street parties during lockdown. Reuters -
A journalist highlights sections of the Sue Gray report. AFP -
Mr Johnson is understood to have been present at six of at least 12 events being investigated. One occurred on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, at which Queen Elizabeth II had to grieve away from other mourners because of social distancing protocol. Getty
What happens next?
At least 50 per cent of MPs must vote “no confidence” for the Prime Minister to lose.
But even if Mr Johnson survives the vote on Monday evening, his leadership could be fatally undermined if a significant number of MPs vote against him.
How does the leadership contest work?
If Mr Johnson is voted out or forced to resign, a leadership contest to replace him as the head of the party would take place — although he is likely to remain 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 party MPs then vote in a series of rounds to reduce the number of candidates until only two remain.
In the second stage of the contest, the two remaining candidates are put to a vote of Conservative Party members.
Mr Johnson won the leadership contest in 2019 against Jeremy Hunt, following Theresa May’s resignation.
