Now Tory rebels admit it’s not time for a revolt

THE rebellion against Boris Johnson descended into chaos yesterday as it emerged Tory MPs are being told to withdraw no-confidence letters to avoid triggering a vote too early.

One rebel leader is said to be encouraging MPs to recall their letters to avoid triggering a ballot ‘by accident’ as soon as Monday or Tuesday.

Some MPs are worried potential leadership contenders are not yet ready to launch their bids. It is believed they would prefer to wait until later this month, after by-elections in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton which the Tories are expected to lose.

One senior Government source said No 10 was braced for a vote

‘Making it sound inevitable’’

next week, which could disrupt plans for a ‘health week’ which will include measures to clear the NHS backlog caused by Covid.

The source said: ‘The plotters are making it sound inevitable... We are edging closer and closer for sure.’ More than 30 MPs have publicly called on the PM to resign following revelations of Covid rule-breaking.

A leadership ballot will be triggered if 54 letters of no confidence are handed to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tories’ backbench 1922 committee. It would need 180 Conservative MPs to vote against Mr Johnson in the subsequent vote to force him out. If he wins, he cannot be challenged for another year.

However, Mr Johnson could face rolling leadership ballots, it was reported last night. Sir Graham has taken soundings from fellow Tory grandees to cut the time limit to three or six months or do away with the rule completely, according to The Sun.