Conservative MPs, who hope to impose a no-confidence vote on Boris Johnson, fear that a leader’s failure to move forward to organize a challenge will allow him to escape.
The rebel Tories told The Independent of growing desperation from colleagues who refused to “face” the crisis in their party, stressing the lack of a person to coordinate the campaign and gather those in doubt.
One former minister expressed surprise that Mr Johnson had avoided the bill despite the “disastrous” results of the local elections, but warned: “There is no leadership, no one wants to move forward”.
The second reiterated that “no one wants to be seen as a leader” in a conspiracy, adding: “Colleagues know that this cannot pass, but everyone looks at their feet when I ask what we will do.”
A third said he hoped that Jeremy Hunt, the defeated candidate for leadership in 2019 – who opposes competition while the war raged in Ukraine – would speak, asking: “Who will lead the writing of letters?”
Another former minister told his constituents that the push to oust Mr Johnson had “failed” because fellow MPs were silent.
The Independent reported on a recent private meeting in which a group of Tory MPs “cried for Boris” only to join in the laughter when the prime minister joined them and joked.
There are fears that it will be impossible to defend Mr Johnson on the doorstep if Keir Starmer is fined for gathering beer and curry in Durham last year and resigns.
“How will I face my constituents if Starmer resigns – but our leader, despite many fines, is still there?” Said one former minister.
Jeremy Hunt opposes the race for leadership as the war in Ukraine unfolds
(PA Archive)
The growing frustration comes after an event that has long been thought likely to challenge leadership – breaking elections – has come and gone, but the prime minister’s position appears safe.
His aides are said to be “alive for the future” and believe the prime minister is close to danger because “the sky has not fallen”.
The Conservatives lost nearly 500 seats and control of 12 councils in the May 5th election – one of the party’s worst results and worse than most predictions.
But only about 15 Tory MPs called on Johnson to leave or revealed that they had sent letters of no confidence and the number had not risen since the poll.
About 54 letters are needed to trigger the vote, after which the prime minister will be forced to resign if he does not win the support of more than half of the party’s 359 deputies.
Many lawmakers say they are waiting to see if he will receive more police fines for parties blocking Covid-10 and Sue Gray’s last cabinet in the scandal – but some rebels fear the momentum will be lost.
Boris Johnson’s position seems secure despite his party’s heavy losses in the local elections
(PA conductor)
The conviction highlights the fragile ties between the various Tory tribes, the One Nation group, the staunch Brexit supporters who put Mr Johnson at number 10, and the newcomers in 2019 who owe their success to him.
Mr Hunt, a former One Nation foreign minister, warned last week of a “big mountain to climb” for the Tories to stay in power, but said the race would be wrong “in the midst of a terrible war in Ukraine. “
Steve Baker, the former Brexit minister who coordinates the signatures for a no-confidence vote on Theresa May’s leadership, called on Johnson to step down – but this time he is not actively planning a conspiracy.
“If Jeremy came out and said he had seen enough evidence [against Mr Johnson] that can make a difference, “one MP suggested.
Another said of his constituents: “My people say ‘everyone but not Boris’ – but when I ask who should replace him, my fellow Members are silent.”
One of the former ministers said: “I am trying to impress my colleagues that by deciding not to do anything, they are actively deciding to stay with Boris in the next elections.
Another warned his colleagues: “The problem right now is him, but it could easily be all of us if we are not careful – because the whole party will be totally infected.”
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