Boris insists he is on right road
BORIS Johnson yesterday insisted he would lead the Tories into the next general election, as he faced a potentially difficult set of local elections.
The Prime Minister faces a cost-ofliving crisis, the fall-out from his fine over a lockdown-busting birthday party in No 10 and scandals involving Tory MPs, as voters head to the ballot boxes today.
However, Mr Johnson said he had the “right agenda for the country” and added “of course” he would lead the party into the next general election – and win it.
Under Conservative Party rules, there must be a vote on the Prime Minister’s future if 54 MPs write to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, saying they have lost confidence in their leader.
So far, only a handful of MPs have publicly confirmed sending a letter, with many critics of Mr Johnson holding back due to the war in Ukraine, although results of the elections and any further developments in the ‘Partygate’ saga could change that position.
The main party leaders were visiting key electoral battlegrounds yesterday, on the last day of campaigning before voters go to the polls.
Mr Johnson visited Southampton Airport, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was in Wakefield and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey campaigned in the South East.
The Prime Minister told reporters that he was “absolutely confident that we have the right agenda for the country”. He added: “I have a big mandate to deliver.” Asked if he would still be there at the next election, due to be held in 2024 at the latest, Mr Johnson said: “Of course, and I’m also very confident we will succeed at the next election.”
Labour’s Sir Keir said the elections were a chance to demonstrate how the party had changed under his leadership. He said: “It is a step on the road to the general election, and we have come a long way in the last two years. We have changed the Labour Party, but we are now so focused on the issues that matter most to people and, at the moment, that is how they pay their bills.”