TORIES ACT TO SHORE UP BORIS IN NEW CIVIL WAR

HAMMOND VOWS TO BLOCK NO DEAL

SENIOR Tories have moved to protect Boris Johnson from being toppled as leader for at least a year, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Party rules were “clarified” at a meeting of the executive of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers to bar any confidence vote being staged in the next prime minister until at least July 23, 2020.

The move emerged as Chancellor Philip Hammond vowed to do “everything in my power” to block a no-deal Brexit — and did not rule out backing a no-confidence vote in the Government. The

Chancellor said it was “absolutely necessary” to extend the Brexit deadline of October 31.

In another sign of a Tory civil war waiting to break out, minister Stephen Hammond, a member of the “Gaukeward Squad” of ministers opposed to no-deal Brexit, suggested he was willing to support a vote of no confidence in the Government.

A Brexiteer denounced the threat as “puke making”.

Opposition parties have said they would stage a confidence vote in October if it was the only way to prevent Mr Johnson — who is widely expected to win the Tory leadership race next week — from carrying out his “Plan C” of crashing out on October 31 if the EU denies him a better deal.

Health minister Mr Hammond, one of 36 Conservative rebels who staged a coup against no deal in the Commons yesterday, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he would be “very, very, very cautious” about backing a no-confidence motion.

“I’m a Conservative through and through and no one takes any pleasure in rebelling,” he said, but added: “I think it’s really important that, at this historic stage in this country’s lifetime in modern politics, politicians put aside any of their own personal ambitions or views and actually make sure they do the right thing as they see it for the country.” Brexiteer Michael Fabricant tweeted after the interview: “Rather puke making listening to a self satisfied junior minister who defied the whip and abstained yesterday say ‘I must put personal conscience before ambition’ when he wept last time he was reshuffled (sacked) and guesses he wouldn’t be a minister in a Johnson administration.”

The 1922 Committee executive acted to ensure that the new prime minister’s first year will not be dogged by the constant threats of a coup that blighted Theresa May’s last two years in office.

A clarification of the rules, making clear that a confidence vote cannot be triggered within a year of a leadership election was agreed and minuted at a private meeting.

Some members had wanted an explicit new rule but this was deemed unnecessary.

The existing rules say a leader has a year’s grace after one confidence vote, and the clarification says the election of a leader has the same status.

simple: you have to read The Londoner.” Hazarika said: “I’m delighted to be joining the great team at the Evening Standard. I’ve always loved the paper ever since moving here from Glasgow more than 20 years ago, so it’s a huge privilege to be editing the Londoner.” Ayesha became a much sought-after political commentator and broadcaster as well as an award-winning stand-up comedian after being a special adviser to Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband. She will begin her new role at the end of this month.

Protection: Boris Johnson today. Senior Tories have “clarified” rules that bar any confidence vote in the next prime minister for at least a year