Boris Johnson faces backlash from angry Tory MPs over parties scandal

Peter Aldous submits no-confidence letter while others admit patience with PM is wearing out

Boris Johnson faces a backlash from Conservative MPs after allies briefed that the prime minister had won over his party, as splits appear in the One Nation group of Tory centrists about how to proceed.

On Tuesday, the veteran MP Peter Aldous said he had submitted a letter of no confidence and MP Tom Hunt criticised the “cack-handed” backers of the prime minister, though stopped short of saying he should resign. Gary Streeter, the MP for South West Devon, also declined to say he had confidence in the prime minister.

It is understood Johnson saw at least four former ministers late on Monday night after at least three others told him their support was either lost or conditional on Sue Gray’s final report on Downing Street’s lockdown breaches, now being investigated by police.

Aldous became the latest MP to say he had written a letter of no confidence in Johnson. “After a great deal of soul-searching, I have reached the conclusion that the prime minister should resign,” Aldous tweeted.

“I have never taken such action before and had hoped that I would not be put in such an invidious position. Whilst I am conscious that others will disagree with me, I believe that this is in the best interests of the country, the government and the Conservative party.”

Charles Walker, the vice chair of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, added his voice to the mix, saying he would applaud Johnson for resigning.

“I think there’s so much grief and pain out there that if he was to say [that he would resign], that would show great courage,” he told Channel 4 News. “I would applaud him for doing that but that is his decision.”

Elliot Colburn, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, also revealed to a constituent that his “patience has now snapped” with Johnson and the partygate scandal in a hint that he could be among those to have put in a letter. “If I were the PM, I’d be considering my position,” he said.

Streeter said it was not true the prime minister’s meeting with MPs had been “well received” on Monday evening. “This one is not over yet,” he told BBC Radio Devon. “It has got legs. A lot of us are thinking very seriously about what we should do about it.

“It’s a serious matter of course to express no confidence in a prime minister … I’m reflecting and certainly over the next couple days will make a decision.”

Johnson’s critics admitted there was “no plan and no coordination” among those who believed the prime minister should go. One senior MP who has been publicly critical of Johnson said they had been aghast at colleagues’ response to the prime minister’s private meeting with his MPs on Monday night.

“The Tory party’s reputation for ruthlessness is a complete lie. It’s actually never been true and we’re seeing it happening before our eyes,” the MP said.

Contact

One former minister who said they were among a number of colleagues prepared to move as a collective after the Gray report, described it as a “deeply unwelcome delay” but said they still held the view that a no-confidence vote would have a greater chance of success once the full evidence had been disclosed.

But another former cabinet minister, who has seen Johnson, said that the idea of a leadership contest was “filling people with horror” about the damage that in itself could do to the party. “We would be on to our fourth prime minister. What does that say about the party? For better or worse, we did throw our lot in with him and we won a big majority.”

But the MP said that would change if Johnson was fined by the Met. “He’s not out of the woods, no. He’d be very foolish to have a ‘mission accomplished’ banner. At the point where he has committed a criminal offence, of course that changes things. And it depends how bad is the final Gray report.”

Among those who have expressed anger and frustration are some of the more critical 2019 MPs who have privately told more experienced colleagues they feel betrayed.

Hunt has said the limited findings made in Gray’s update were not “acceptable, excusable, or defensible” but stopped short of saying it meant he had submitted a letter of no confidence.

The MP for Ipswich said some of the interventions by Johnson’s allies had been “so cack-handed that the best way they could be of assistance to the prime minister would be to disable all their social media platforms and cease carrying out media interviews”.

“Silence would be preferable,” he said.

He said it was not the time to “depose the prime minister”, but that a line could not be drawn under the saga until the full report was published.

Contributor

Jessica Elgot Chief political correspondent

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Tory whips accused of intimidating MPs who oppose Boris Johnson
PM optimistic he can overcome a confidence vote as whipping alleged to veer into blackmail

Jessica Elgot, Peter Walker and Josh Halliday

20, Jan, 2022 @11:43 PM

Article image
Boris Johnson faces growing Tory calls for confidence vote
Andrea Leadsom criticises PM’s ‘failure of leadership’ as another MP submits letter to 1922 Committee

Jessica Elgot Chief political correspondent

31, May, 2022 @1:26 PM

Article image
Furious Tories pile pressure on Boris Johnson over No 10 parties
Former ministers and MPs call on prime minister to fully address issue in Commons after latest revelation

Heather Stewart, Severin Carrell, Nicola Davis and Peter Walker

11, Jan, 2022 @8:44 PM

Article image
The Tory MPs calling on Boris Johnson to resign – and what they said
Explainer: a full list of the Conservatives who have sent a letter of no confidence, publicly urged the PM to quit or criticised his leadership

Jessica Elgot Chief political correspondent

31, May, 2022 @1:08 PM

Article image
Boris Johnson faces fresh outrage over lockdown birthday party
Furious response from MPs and bereaved after revelation of celebration held indoors in contravention of Covid restrictions

Jessica Elgot and Aubrey Allegretti

24, Jan, 2022 @8:53 PM

Article image
Scandal after scandal: timeline of Tory sleaze under Boris Johnson
PM’s tenure has been characterised by disrepute, from lockdown breaches to serious sexual assaults

Josh Halliday

01, Jul, 2022 @1:04 PM

Article image
Tory rebels send stark warning to Boris Johnson over no-deal Brexit
Emphatic majority in vote aiming to prevent suspension of parliament in October

Peter Walker, Jessica Elgot and Larry Elliott

18, Jul, 2019 @7:06 PM

Article image
‘In the name of God, go’: Tory fury spills over as Boris Johnson clings on
Former minister demands PM’s resignation in Commons, one Conservative MP defects and others clamour for concessions

Rowena Mason and Jessica Elgot

19, Jan, 2022 @8:22 PM

Article image
Tory leadership rivals discuss alliance to stop Boris Johnson
Decision on ‘consolidation’ imminent after former foreign secretary’s crushing victory

Heather Stewart and Jessica Elgot

13, Jun, 2019 @7:04 PM

Article image
Boris Johnson could get three more fines over Partygate, say insiders
Several events at No 10 not yet fully investigated by Met police, posing further threat to PM’s position

Jessica Elgot, Aubrey Allegretti and Vikram Dodd

13, Apr, 2022 @9:21 PM