Under party rules,such a vote is triggered if 15 per cent of party lawmakers — currently 54 people — write letters calling for one. If Johnson lost such a vote he would be replaced as party leader and prime minister.
It’s not known how many letters have been sent,though a handful of MPs said this week that they were seeking a no-confidence vote.
Conservative discontent grew after Johnson accused opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer in the House of Commons on Monday of “failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile” when he was the UK’s director of public prosecutions.
Savile was a veteran television personality who was revealed after his death in 2011 as a serial sexual abuser.
Starmer said it was “a ridiculous slurpeddled by right-wing trolls,” and some Conservatives also recoiled at the attack. Mirza,who has worked for Johnson since he was mayor of London a decade ago,resigned over the Savile comment.
“You are a better man than many of your detractors will ever understand,which is why it is so desperately sad that you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation against the leader of the opposition,” she wrote in a resignation letter,published by theSpectator magazine — of which Johnson is a former editor.
Sunak’s support
Johnson has declined to apologise but did back down from the comments on Thursday. Asked whether the Prime Minister should have apologised,Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak,considered the leading contender to replaceJohnson should he be forced out,said:“Being honest,I wouldn’t have said it,and I am glad the Prime Minister clarified what he said.”
Sunak has repeatedly refused to rule out a leadership bid if Johnson is toppled by Tory MPs,The Telegraph(London) reported.
Johnson had his “full support”,he said.
A contest between himself and Johnson remained a “hypothetical situation” Sunak said but refused to answer three times on whether he would run,if given the opportunity,theTelegraph reported.
However,being told that a number of Tory MPs would like to see him replace Johnson,Sunak replied:“I know a few of my colleagues have said that and they’ll have their reasons for doing that,but I don’t think that’s the situation we’re in.”
As Johnson’s troubles mounted Thursday,a government minister,Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke,was asked by Channel 4 news whether it felt like the “last days of Rome” in Downing Street.