Boris Johnson’s Party Continues to Receive Letters Demanding the Departure of Their Prime Minister

Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party continues to receive letters from parliamentarians demanding the departure of their prime minister. Prominent MP Tobias Ellwood told Sky News that he would write to ask for a vote on Johnson’s political future on Wednesday.

Johnson’s premiership is at risk from the so-called partygate scandal. New reports keep coming out about parties with government employees during corona lockdowns. For example, the Guardian newspaper wrote on Tuesday that the prime minister attended a farewell party during a lockdown where the prosecco flowed freely.

The opposition has been demanding that Johnson resign for some time but does not have a majority in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister’s Conservative Party is in charge there. He, therefore mainly runs the risk that angry party members decide to replace him as party leader. Then he will also have to make way for a fellow party member as head of government without new elections being held.

Requesting a vote on his position requires the support of 15 percent of Conservative MPs. This means that at least 54 party members of the prime minister must send a letter to the party’s so-called 1922 Committee. Sky News reports that a “handful” of letters have already been sent, but the exact number is known only to the committee chairman.

Ellwood calls it “inevitable” that the 54 letter limit will eventually be reached. He calls on Johnson not to wait for that and to ask for a confidence vote himself. “It is time to finally resolve this so that the party can start rerunning the country.”

Conservative MP Peter Aldous had already written to withdraw confidence in Johnson the day before. He said in no uncertain terms that the prime minister must resign and does not expect Johnson ever to do so voluntarily. However, Aldous told the BBC that he has been confronted by his constituents about the affair and has concluded that there is “no turning back”.