Plotters want change to confidence vote rule

TORY rebels are pushing for a rule change to allow them to challenge Boris Johnson in as little as six months.

At present, a Conservative leader who wins a no-confidence vote cannot face another for 12 months. But figures among the 148 rebels want to shorten this.

The rule can be changed by a majority among the backbench 1922 Committee. On Monday, the chairman Sir Graham Brady said: ‘Technically it’s possible for rules to be changed but the rule at present is there would be a period of grace.’

After Theresa May’s victory in her no-confidence vote in 2018, some campaigned for the period to be cut to six months, but she resigned within months anyway.

One rebel told The Times: ‘There is a majority of 1922 officers who will agree to change the rules when the time is right.’ They expected the change before October’s party conference.

Another rebel said they wanted a vote straight after this month’s by- elections in Wakefield and Tiverton, which the party is widely tipped to lose.

A further MP added: ‘ There were lots of MPs who thought he’d win by more who now realise how grave the problem is.’