Boris Johnson has been called on to quit by former Tory minister David Davis during a dramatic Prime Minister’s Questions.
Mr Davis told the Commons he expected his leaders to “shoulder responsibility for the actions they take”, accusing the prime minister of doing “the opposite of that”.
“So I’ll remind him of a quotation altogether too familiar to him,” he said. “You have sat there too long for all the good you’ve done. In the name of God, go.”
Mr Johnson was also hit by the defection of a Red Wall MP to Labour just minutes before PMQs.
Bury South MP Christian Wakeford said the country needed a government that “upholds the highest standards of integrity and probity” but told Mr Johnson “both you and the Conservative Party as a whole have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves”.
Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson suggested a no-confidence vote in MrJohnson was now a matter of “when” rather than “if” after 12 more Tory MPs reportedly submitted letters of no confidence on Wednesday morning.
Some Tory MPs starting to withdraw no-confidence letters, reports say
Some Tory MPs have now withdrawn their letters of no confidence sent to 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady, according to reports.
My colleague Adam Forrest has these comments from Red wall Tory Jonathan Gullis, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North:
“What I’m hearing from colleagues is that a number of [MPs], particularly 2019-ers, are actually starting to withdraw those letters.
“I hope those MPs in my intake take a pause for breath, contact Sir Graham … and withdraw their letter.
“I’ve not been told any direct names – but I’m being told names are being withdrawn.”
Mr Gullis said the Tory reaction to Christian Wakeford’s defection to Labour was “complete and utter disgust”, and called for a by-election in his Bury South seat.
PM ‘isn’t prioritising saving lives’, say bereaved families
My colleague Adam Forrest has these comments from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, which has added its voice to those calling for Boris Johnson to quit.
Dr Saleyha Ahsan, spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said: “Whilst the prime minister removes public health protections in the hope of saving his own skin, 438 families have tragically lost loved ones to Covid in the last 24 hours.”
“He isn’t prioritising saving lives and, even if he was, no one would take him seriously.
“How can anyone think that this is how life or death decisions should be made? The prime minister has shown he’s unfit for office and should resign.”
Labour MPs branded ‘hypocrites’ for not speaking out as council boss remains in £190k job despite party
Labour MPs who have failed to speak out against a council boss who broke lockdown rules by throwing a party in Whitehall have been branded “hypocrites”.
Kate Josephs, the chief executive of Sheffield City Council, hosted leaving drinks in December 2020 to toast the end of her previous job leading the government’s Covid Taskforce.
Our North of England correspondent Colin Drury has the full story:
Sajid Javid to hold press conference to discuss changes to Covid restrictions
Health secretary Sajid Javid is to hold a press conference at Downing Street at 5pm today to discuss changes to Covid regulations in England, No 10 has announced.
Mr Javid will face questioning shortly after Boris Johnson’s announcement that Plan B restrictions will be lifted at midnight on Wednesday evening next week, removing all requirements for Covid passes in sports and entertainment events and face-coverings in public places.
More on this from our political editor Andrew Woodcock below:
Boris Johnson will fight to save job in confidence vote, says No 10
Boris Johnson will fight any vote of no confidence brought against him, a senior Downing Street source has said.
Follow our breaking story for more on this:
Watch: Boris Johnson says No 10 party questions are ‘wasting people’s time’
Watch: Keir Starmer cracks ‘bring your own boos’ joke during rowdy PMQs exchange
Labour: No need to hold byelection in South Bury, party claims
A Labour spokesman indicated the party’s leader believes there will be no need to hold a by-election in Bury South following Christian Wakeford’s defection.
Asked if, as far as Sir Keir Starmer is concerned, there is no principle requiring anyone who defects from one party to another to stand for re-election, the spokesman said: “Correct.”
On whether Mr Wakeford will face a trigger ballot in the coming months, the spokesman said: “We’ll set out all of the process, obviously, once we’ve had a chance to speak to people, the relevant people that vote in the local party and nationally, and we’ll happily set out the process at that point. But I don’t want to pre-empt that now.”
89% chance of no confidence vote in PM, sports betting community says
There is now an 89 per cent chance that the PM will receive a vote of no confidence from MPs, according to an online sport betting community.
The Online Betting Guide, which provides tips to gamblers, cites odds saying there is “89% confidence from bookmakers that a vote of no confidence will be triggered.
“Bookmakers are certainly confident in a vote of no confidence, with them offering odds of 3/25, giving it an 89% likelihood of it happening,” it adds.
‘Good riddance to bad rubbish’
Tory MP Lee Anderson has said “good riddance to bad rubbish” as he lashed out at Christian Wakeford’s decision to defect to the Labour Party.
“I guess if anybody was going to defect it would be Christian Wakeford,” he said.
“I say good riddance to bad rubbish,” he added in a disparaging tone as referred to his ex-colleague as “wokeford”.
Meanwhile, reports say Labour’s latest recruit has been in talks with the party about switching since before Christmas – before the rush of calls for the PM to go but after the first partygate report emerged.
