UK’s Boris Johnson’s push to get back to work swamped by more party reports, while another Tory MP wants no confidence vote
- British Prime Minister held talks with Ukraine and revealed long-awaited plan to reduce UK inequality but ‘partygate’ is still hanging over him
- Now another Conservative MP submitting letter of no confidence in PM; 54 letters needed to trigger confidence vote, not known how many so far
Boris Johnson’s latest effort to get the British public’s attention back onto his policy plans was drowned out on Wednesday by more reports of lockdown parties at 10 Downing Street and another letter of no confidence, from a senior Conservative.
The UK prime minister flew to Kyiv on Tuesday for talks with the Ukrainian leadership and on Wednesday revealed a long-awaited plan to reduce economic inequality in the UK, a key election promise.
Yet The Telegraph newspaper reported that Johnson was seen heading up to his flat on November 13, 2020, when a gathering was held which is now being investigated by the police. The Guardian said he had attended another boozy leaving do for staff in January 2021.
“It’s time to resolve this so the party can get back to governing and yes ... I will be submitting my letter today to the 1922 Committee,” Ellwood said, referring to a group which represents lawmakers who do not have government jobs.
“I believe it’s time for the prime minister to take a grip of this. He himself should call a vote of confidence rather than waiting for the inevitable 54 letters to be actually submitted,” Ellwood told Sky News.
A confidence vote can be triggered if 15 per cent of the 359 Conservative members of parliament write letters demanding one to the chairman of the 1922 Committee. It is not known how many letters have been sent.