RECAP: Boris Johnson to be questioned by senior MPs with PM set to appear before Liaison Committee

Boris Johnson retained the support of most colleagues but was left badly weakened after the no confidence vote in which 148 MPs voted against him

The result leaves the PM clinging to his premiership after 41% of his party voted against him.

The Prime Minister insisted he had secured a “decisive” victory despite 148 of his own MPs voting to oust him on Monday night, arguing the Government could now “move on” and focus on what “really matters to people”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Prime Minister will appear before the Liaison Committee, made up of the chairs of the Commons select committees.

Boris Johnson called on his ministers to “come forward” with ways to cut costs as he focussed on moving forward with the Government’s agenda during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.Boris Johnson called on his ministers to “come forward” with ways to cut costs as he focussed on moving forward with the Government’s agenda during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Boris Johnson called on his ministers to “come forward” with ways to cut costs as he focussed on moving forward with the Government’s agenda during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

While the make-up of the panel that will question the Prime Minister has not been announced, Mr Johnson could face a tough time as a number of the Tory MPs that chair committees have been critical of his leadership.

When Theresa May faced a confidence vote in 2018 she secured the support of 63% of her MPs, but was still forced out within six months.

Politics Live: Reaction and fallout as Boris Johnson wins no-confidence vote despite large rebellion

Dominic Raab said potential losses for the Conservative Party at two upcoming by-elections in Wakefield, West Yorkshire and Devon’s Tiverton and Honiton, would have little effect on a general election result the following year.

Speaking on LBC, he said: “By-elections are often an opportunity for a protest vote in a way that a general election isn’t.

“Governments of the day often lose by-elections to go on to win them at a general election.

“But we’ll do everything we can do win both of those seats and support both of those great candidates up there.”

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has said the vote of confidence in Boris Johnson will be less damaging to his position than it was for former prime minister Theresa May because he has a larger majority in Parliament.

Mr Raab told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “We won the biggest majority since 1987 in 2019, and that’s very different from, for example, the situation Theresa May found herself in because there was a hung parliament.

“But there’s no doubt there are challenges, and no doubt we need to listen to some of the critics and the dissenting voices, I accept all of that.”

We now know the outcome of the vote on confidence - but it remains to see exactly how Boris Johnson responds. Here’s a look at what could happen next.

Full analysis HERE

Angela Rayner said Boris Johnson would get “absolutely hammered” should he call a general election in the coming months.

When asked whether Labour would stop calling for Mr Johnson’s resignation now the no confidence vote had been held, Ms Rayner told the PA news agency: “We’ve got the answers to the problems that the country faces at the moment, but the country will not move on while Boris Johnson the liar, the cheat and the law breaker is continuing as Prime Minister, because it sets the standard for the future of our democracy.

“If we allow a prime minister to continue in office when he smirks and laughs and has taken the public for fools and lied and broken his own laws, well there has to be a line that is drawn, and I think the public won’t move on until Boris Johnson is gone.”

DUP MP Sammy Wilson has declined to say whether his party backs Prime Minister Boris Johnson, insisting his leadership is an internal matter for the Conservative Party.

“What the country needs and what we need is an effective Prime Minister and a Prime Minister who has a vision for how he takes the country through the current difficulties,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.

“I think the vote last night is going to make it more difficult for him to command the control and respect in his own party, but that’s something which the Conservatives have to deal with. We will work with whoever the Prime Minister happens to be.”

Senior Tory Philip Dunne confirmed he had voted against Boris Johnson.

The former minister and current chairman of the Environmental Audit Committee said Mr Johnson still faced some “very choppy waters”.

The Ludlow MP told BBC Radio Shropshire: “I took the view that it would be better to provide the opportunity for integrity, for a new vision for the party and a new degree of competence at the heart of government.

“It’s not going to happen for now, but we’ll have to see what happens in the coming weeks and months. This is not over.”

He added: “He’s got some very difficult challenges ahead – the by-elections, he’s got this Privileges Committee investigation – we’ve got some very tricky conditions ahead through the economy, challenges with the Northern Irish protocol.

“There are some very choppy waters ahead and they’d be difficult to navigate for anyone.”

Asked about speculation that Boris Johnson may call an early general election, Conservative MP Lee Anderson called it “a lot of nonsense”.

“It’s just speculation, and it’s probably a lot of nonsense, and the press have been on a bit of a witch hunt for the boss since day one.

“All this speculation, who’s saying it? I’ve not had anybody say it in my party, so that’s probably just nonsense,” the MP for Ashfield added.