Boris Johnson could face another confidence vote within days as Conservative backbenchers will consider changing the rules as soon as Wednesday night, the Guardian understands.
Two executive members said it was possible the 1922 Committee might decide to change the rules to allow a vote of confidence to take place at an executive meeting Wednesday afternoon. Johnson is shielded by current rules that grant a year of immunity after winning a vote a month ago.
If the executive changes the rules and enough MPs have sent letters to Sir Graham Brady asking for a new vote of confidence, then one could take place immediately. “The first vote was triggered and held the same day – we can act quickly if we have to,” said one MP.
However, the committee is split on how to proceed, and one said at least six committee members could not attend the regularly scheduled 4 p.m. meeting because of other commitments — including questioning Johnson at a liaison committee meeting of elected chairmen of committees.
One executive member said there was a need for composure and for every decision to have complete honesty. “We have to calmly go through the position and find a balance of what needs to happen,” the MP said. “We have to ask ourselves whether we need to make a decision of this magnitude at this time. is it wise What does this mean for future leaders.
There are other options open to committee members, including waiting until new executive members are elected, which is expected to be next week. Others are for a delegation to go to the prime minister to give him the opportunity to resign.
One executive member said they could make it clear to MPs that if 50% of the parliamentary party – enough for the prime minister to lose a confidence vote – wrote to Brady demanding a change of leader, the prime minister would know he had to gone.
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Two cabinet ministers, Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, resigned on Tuesday, citing Johnson’s conduct. A number of former loyalists have also resigned or withdrawn their confidence in Johnson – including vocal Johnson supporters such as Jonathan Gullis and Lee Anderson.
Other MPs seen as party opinion leaders who backed Johnson in the confidence vote – such as Robert Halfon, the chairman of the education committee – also said the prime minister should go.
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