boris johnson voiced defiance today because he is facing more Tory There are conspiracy theories – and there are rumors that Red Wall lawmakers are considering defecting to Labor.
The prime minister trolled his critics after losing two by-elections and made it clear he wants to stay in Downing Street until the mid-2030s.
Mr Johnson said he was ‘actively thinking’ about fighting for a third term – which would certainly take him 11 years ahead of Margaret Thatcher in power.
But the attacks kept on coming even today, with the resignation of the party president. Oliver Dowden Sent as the temperature rises on Friday.
Labor Insiders claimed to the Sunday Times that half a dozen Tory lawmakers are considering defection.
One of the candidates to replace Mr Johnson told The Mail on Sunday that he expects the PM to face the challenge “within weeks or days” following the disastrous results at Wakefield and Tiverton & Oniton.
More no-confidence letters were also believed to have been sent to the backbench 1922 committee, even though Mr Johnson faced a previous challenge earlier this month and should in theory be safe for a year,
Boris Johnson (pictured in Rwanda yesterday) trolled his critics after losing two by-elections and made it clear he wants to stay in Downing Street until the mid-2030s.
Damien Green (left), who chairs the One Nation caucus of Tory lawmakers, warned the government “needs to change both its style and content” and called on cabinet to step in. Keir Starmer (right) urged Mr Johnson to ‘bring it up’. On the threat of early general elections’
Damien Green, who chairs the One Nation caucus of Tory lawmakers, warned the government “needs to change both its style and content” and called for a cabinet move.
Former minister David Davies also made the only argument of ‘substance’ over the PM’s claim that he had called for the UK to return to the EU single market to change direction from his critics, arguing that it was ‘about me’. is clearly not true. , or many others’.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis broadcast this morning to the prime minister to dismiss the challenges.
He said Mr Johnson’s desire to appear “long-term” when it comes to his leadership has “been a good thing”.
He told Sky’s Sophie Ridge at Sunday’s event: ‘What I see is someone, and that’s what I see when I work with the prime minister every day… someone who has that enthusiasm and enthusiasm. What we want to achieve for our country. ,
‘And I think given that kind of enthusiasm, and let’s be clear, someone who enjoys working and wants and plans for the country it wants to deliver, including looking forward ability, I think it’s a good thing.
‘In politics we are often criticized when we look at the short term, just on the next day, the next election, the next vote.
‘Actually we have someone in the form of a Prime Minister who wants to see for a long time how we structurally improve our country for generations to come. It should be a good thing.’
Mr Johnson insisted the ‘endless churning’ of allegations was ‘driving people crazy’, as he followed further ministerial resignations despite suggestions to go ahead with his Rwanda trip.
He told reporters in Kigali that his leadership’s questions had been “settled” after winning a trust vote earlier this month, and vowed he would not undergo any “psychological changes” to win unsupported lawmakers .
Asked if he would lead his party in the next election, he said: ‘Will I win? Yes.’
In an upbeat mood, the PM said: ‘At the moment I am actively thinking about the third term and what can happen then, but I will review it when I get it.’
Meanwhile, Labor challenges the Tories to hold an early election, with leader Sir Keir Starmer telling Mr Johnson: ‘Keep it going.’
The prime minister’s pledge to move on into the next decade would anger lawmakers who were planning to remove him from office after losing both Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton to Labor and the Liberal Democrats, respectively.
If the next general election takes place, as expected, in 2024, Mr Johnson will seek a third term in 2028 or 2029, taking him in principle to 2034.
In fact, most Tory MPs are wondering whether he can stay in power until the Commons summer break at the end of July.
If Mr Johnson is removed from office, one of the candidates considering a race for leader told this newspaper that a contest is likely to come soon. The opponent said, ‘We are talking about weeks or days, not months. ‘Olive’s passing has changed that.’
‘Olive’ is Westminster shorthand for Oliver Dowden.
Mr Dowden has resigned as co-chair of the Tory party, saying he is ‘distressed and dismayed by recent events’ and telling the prime minister that ‘someone must take responsibility’. He pointed to continued loyalty to the party – but not to Mr Johnson personally.
The sighting of Mr Cameron and Mr Dowden, his former deputy chief of staff, together in No 10 has fueled concerns that a Cameroonian faction is plotting against the PM.
The faction is believed to have included former Chancellor George Osborne and allies of Mr Cameron’s successor in Downing Street, Theresa May.
Although. The importance of the meeting has been underestimated by a source close to Mr Cameron, who describes it as one of the more ‘regular’ meetings between the couple.
‘He [Cameron] There was absolutely no prior knowledge or involvement of Oliver Dowden’s resignation,’ says the source.
A cabinet minister has told aides that the ‘tipping point’ for Mr Johnson will come when the Commons Privilege Committee concludes that the prime minister misled MPs when he told the Commons that No 10 did not violate COVID rules. it was done.
The minister – and possible successor – said, ‘It will be of a different order, no prime minister can survive.
The committee is expected to report by the autumn.
Mr Dowden and Mr Cameron were seen together last month at 5 Hertford Street, a private members’ club that has long been linked to the Tory plotting.
The £2,850-a-year club in London’s Mayfair is a favorite of politicians, Tory donors and royals, although the importance of the meeting has been underestimated by a source close to Mr Cameron.
MPs and donors are gathering behind Education Secretary Nadim Jahvi and Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Health Secretary Sajid Javid and his predecessor Jeremy Hunt are also expected to walk.
Asked yesterday whether he would like to complete the second term, the PM said: ‘At the moment, I am actively thinking about the third and what can happen then. But when I reach it, I will review it.
He then clarified that this would mean that he would remain in his job until the mid-2030s in order to fulfill his leveling-up agenda.
“We have embarked on a huge project to change the country’s constitution, the way we run our legal system, the way we manage our borders, our economy,” Johnson said.
‘We are also, at the same time, embarking on a huge project to unite and level up. And I believe in that incredibly strongly.
‘It will not come easily. And people will say that it did not work, it is not working now, people of this constituency are not getting its benefits. It’s going to take time. And I want to keep it going.
Sir Keir could also find himself fined by Durham Police for his ‘Birgate’ gathering at the end of April 2021, which he has said will lead to his resignation.
The Mail on Sunday established via a freedom of information request that, contrary to earlier claims, the force issues retroactive fines — and for smaller gatherings — than those attended by the Labor leader.