Sunday Mirror

Johnson gets itchy feet as vote threat looms

- BY NIGEL NELSON Political Editor

BORIS Johnson will go walkabout this week in a desperate bid to save his premiershi­p as the no-confidence letters pile up.

The embattled PM plans to scuttle out of Downing Street after being hit with a Met police questionna­ire on parties at No 10.

If that results in a £100 fixed penalty it is sure to trigger the 54 letters needed from Tory MPs to force a no confidence vote. Mr Johnson said: “I’m getting out of London this week and taking a simple message with me.

“This Government is getting on with the job of uniting and levelling up the country.”

The PM will promise to be “laser-focused” on tackling Covid backlogs and improving living standards after his staff clearout.

He added: “We’re changing the rules of the game to put fairness back at the heart of the system.”

He will meet 800 advanced technology workers in Scotland and speak to apprentice­s developing cyber, mechanical and electrical engineerin­g skills.

That will be followed by a trip to a North West oncology centre.

Scotland Yard questionna­ires have been sent to 50 people suspected of attending a dozen events in breach of lockdown. They have seven days to reply.

Although the PM was at as many as six parties, his defence will be that he was working.

Detectives on Operation Hillman could interview him faceto-face if they are not satisfied.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said it would be “very tough” for Mr Johnson to stay on if he was fined.

 ?? ?? QUIZZED Mr Johnson
QUIZZED Mr Johnson

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