Elections for a Tory party that could decide whether Boris Johnson faces a new no-confidence vote this year will be held next month, The Independent has learned.
The new 18-member executive director of the powerful 1922 Conservative Committee will be elected on July 13, sparking a battle between supporters and opponents of the prime minister.
He will decide whether to change the rules, which currently prevent a new no-confidence vote for 12 months, which he hopes will prevent a new challenge by next year.
The idea would be turbocharged if an investigation by the Municipal Privileges Committee found that the prime minister had lied to lawmakers about the Partygate scandal, the biggest threat to his position.
Mr Johnson, who angered Graham Brady, the current president, is expected to step in again behind the scenes by trying to put an ally in office last year to influence the outcome of the election.
One member of the commission suggested that the “candidate lists” could be run by Tory factions seeking to overthrow the prime minister and those who want to keep him in power.
Sir Graham is thought unlikely to be challenged, but his deputies William Rag and Nusrat Ghani – both of whom clashed with Mr Johnson – could face competition.
But №10 is believed to be resigning to the likelihood that the new executive will be more hostile than the previous one, given the 148 Tory MPs who voted to oust the prime minister this month.
Only assholes have served on the 1922 Committee’s executive branch – and ministers and whips have no right to vote in elections.
In addition, anyone considered a Downing Street candidate is unlikely to succeed, given the failed attempt to appoint Heather Wheeler as president last year.
A senior Tory told The Independent: “I expect there will be some challenges against people who do not consider themselves sympathetic to the prime minister, such as William and Nusrat.
The current executive director of the 1922 Committee has not yet agreed on July 13 as the date of the election, but he is sure to seal the recommendation of his staff, who met this week.
There were proposals to postpone until the autumn, but the commission’s leaders have already stopped running next month.
Two weeks ago, Sir Graham said the current CEO had not yet discussed changing the rules to allow a second no-confidence vote within 12 months.
He said: “Of course, it is technically possible that the laws will be changed in the future.
“But I think it’s important to say that the rule that is in force and will probably remain in force is that there is a one-year grace period after the vote of confidence.
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