The rebel conservatives have given Boris Johnson to the party conference to change direction or warned that the rules could be changed to allow for a new challenge, as Dominique Raab said the “democratic outcome” of the vote must be respected.
Johnson lost the confidence of 41% of his deputies in the vote for his leadership on Monday night, after weeks of anger against parties violating the Downing Street blockade, and fears the party’s direction will lead to a drop in the election.
The prime minister will seek to regain control of the political agenda this week, reaffirming that the government will introduce legislation to repeal parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, a move that is likely to fuel tensions with some of his party critics.
He will also give a big speech on housing on Thursday, including the intention to expand the right to buy housing associations.
A landmark review of NHS management is also expected to be reported this week to “level out” failing trusts. On Tuesday morning, Johnson will announce to his office new plans in the coming weeks to ease the cost of raising children – widely known to allow caregivers to take on more children.
In the cabinet, Johnson will also reiterate his desire to improve supplies, especially in terms of living costs, crime and lagging behind in the NHS.
“This is a government that is doing what the people in this country are most interested in,” he said, echoing the government’s achievements in supporting households and recruiting police officers.
“Today I promise to continue to pursue these priorities. We are on the side of the hardworking British and will continue to work. “
But one of Johnson’s key critics, Tobias Eloud, warned on Tuesday that the sentiment against him was so great – with 148 lawmakers voting against the prime minister – that he only had months to change things. Under current party rules, Johnson must be safe from the challenge for a year, but the rules can be changed by the committee’s rear executive since 1922.
He told Sky News: “A lot of work needs to be done: change is needed now – attract new talent and actually start focusing on the big issues.
“Let’s do things that are attractive to the country, not just our base – more exciting policies than the privatization of Channel 4 and the return of imperial measurements, but a real economic strategy that will actually help deal with the cost of living crisis .
Asked how long he believes Johnson will remain prime minister, he added: “I think we are talking for months until the party conference [at the beginning of October]”
Raab said the Conservatives should “draw a line in the sand” after Monday’s no-confidence vote. “It was a clear and decisive victory. We are moving forward to provide for the people of the country, and that is the way we are doing the right thing for our constituents. “
Asked if he could count on rebellious colleagues to support the policies, Raab added: “There is a huge amount when you look at our political agenda, which binds us together.
The deputy prime minister said the potential losses for the Conservative Party in two upcoming by-elections in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and Tiverton and Honiton in Devon were not an indication of the party’s fate.
Speaking to LBC, he said: “Diary elections are often an opportunity for a protest vote in a way that is not a general election. Governments of the day often lose by-elections to win them in general elections. But we will do our best to win both places and support both great candidates. “
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