Conservative rebels are planning coordinated action to oust Boris Johnson after the local elections if the party strikes in the May 5 election, I was told.
Tory sources said critics of the prime minister were telling rebels to “refrain” from provoking a leadership race until after the election or police issued more fines from Partygate to maximize their chances of success.
This comes after reports that some Tory MPs have drafted letters of no confidence, ready to be sent to the commission’s 1992 chairman, Sir Graham Brady, a day after the local election.
One source said the rebels are now working more synchronously after attempts to oust Johnson earlier this year failed as police launched their own investigation into Partygate and Russia invaded Ukraine.
Two sources said that the chairman of the Tories’ group, Damien Green, was among those leading efforts to coordinate action against Mr Johnson.
“They are now working together more,” a source told the rebels. “One nation and the Tory MPs from 2019 are more coordinated.
Downing Street is said to be prepared for Mr Johnson to receive a second notice of fixed sanction after police began issuing fines on Friday in connection with the ‘bring your own bottle’ drink party at Garden № 10 on 20 May 2020 d.
But on Sunday night, Mr Johnson received no other fine.
This came when one of the leading rebels, former Brexit minister Steve Baker, told the Sunday Telegraph that Partygate could hurt conservatives in the local election, with voters voicing “outrage” over reports of violations of the Downing Street pandemic.
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Meanwhile, the Sunday Times reported that Mr Johnson’s allies at number 10 now put his chances of survival no higher than 50-50.
Tory Party Chairman Oliver Dowden acknowledged on Sunday that the local election would be “challenging”, but warned lawmakers that removing Johnson would now harm the national interest.
Mr Dowden told Ridge on Sunday’s Sky News: “I think the uncertainty that would be caused by a change of leader would be very detrimental to this country.
He added: “Talking to the prime minister, he still has a lot of fuel in the tank. He has real energy and determination to continue to serve this country and to face some of the great challenges we face. “
Mr Johnson will spend this week trying to redirect conservatives to issues he believes are more important to voters.
Ministers will be annoyed by the prime minister for ideas to help ease the cost of living after Jacob Rees-Mogg told GB News that the cost of living crisis was the “number one problem” ahead of local elections .
But Mr Johnson will reject Sir Keir Starmer’s call for an urgent budget, instead asking ministers to come up with proposals that do not cost the Treasury any more, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak spending billions last month to raise national thresholds. ensuring and reducing fuel duties.
Ministers will therefore be asked to come up with “non-fiscal ideas”, according to a Whitehall source – for example by changing regulations or promoting better use of existing benefits such as tax-free childcare – to help ease pressure on household budgets.
Mr Johnson is also expected to run in the campaign to garner support for the Tories in the local elections.
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