Downing Street has triggered a de facto vote of confidence in itself by admitting it cannot block Labour’s attempt to hold a vote on Boris Johnson and the government.
The vote, expected on Monday, comes after the Conservatives this week blocked a Labor motion calling on MPs to vote on whether they have confidence in the government while Mr Johnson remains prime minister.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman on Tuesday said Labour’s proposal was a “misuse of parliamentary time” as Mr Johnson had already resigned.
The new motion would call for MPs to vote of confidence in the government rather than the prime minister, but Labor is expected to seek to amend it. Failure to win the confidence of the House of Commons could trigger a general election.
“We are putting forward a motion that gives the House an opportunity to decide whether it has confidence in the government,” a government spokesman said. “The Government will always make time for relevant House issues, while ensuring it delivers parliamentary work to help improve people’s everyday lives.”
“The government was worried about losing”
Labor said its original motion was ruled “in order” by parliamentary clerks based on a previous vote of no confidence in 1965.
A spokesman said: “What is clear is that the Government were worried that they would lose the vote on the proposal we had put forward – otherwise why are they bringing this alternative proposal forward on Monday?
“We look forward to the dozens of Conservative MPs who have already given Boris Johnson a written vote of no confidence to vote accordingly next week, because to do otherwise would be blatant hypocrisy.”
On Monday, Mr Johnson will give a speech defending his government’s achievements before the motion is put to a vote, giving Tory officials around four days to rally enough of their own MPs to vote in favor.
However, due to the large number of MPs involved in leadership campaigns, including party whips who would mobilize the Tories to line up behind the Prime Minister, fewer than usual may vote.
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