A vote will take place today on the Prime Minister’s future.

Under Conservative Party rules, a vote of no confidence is triggered when letters of no confidence from 15 per cent of the Parliamentary party (54 MPs) are sent to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee.

Sir Graham has announced the vote will occur in Westminster today, between 6pm and 8pm, under a secret ballot.

The Oldham Times: Prime Minister Boris JohnsonPrime Minister Boris Johnson

If at least 50 per cent of Tory MPs vote "no confidence", the PM will lose, and a leadership contest will be triggered.

Oldham’s MPs have weighed in with their views on the matter.

Jim McMahon

Responding to The Oldham Times, the Oldham West and Royton MP said: “Today all Conservative MPs have a choice to make, it remains to be seen whether enough of them are ready to put the country, decency and integrity first over petty squabbles.

The Oldham Times: Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon

“For months people in Chadderton, Oldham and Royton have been telling me how upset they are that PM is dishonest and unfit to hold high office, now is the time for Conservative MPs to act.”

Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner’s representatives said the Failsworth MP had nothing more to add than what she has already tweeted, which you can see below:

The Oldham Times: Failsworth and Ashton MP Angela Rayner Failsworth and Ashton MP Angela Rayner

 

Debbie Abrahams

The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP said: “Trust and confidence in our democracy is at an all time low and the Prime Minister must accept his part in this, having broken the very laws he introduced during lockdown.

The Oldham Times: Debbie Abrahams Debbie Abrahams

“In the House I asked him directly if he would put the Ministerial Code on a statutory footing, as it is in the devolved parliaments, but immediately after the Sue Gray report was published, in which she castigated his lack of leadership, he pushed through changes to lower the bar for acceptable behaviour in Government.

“These are the actions we would expect from a despot who is determined to, slowly but surely, underpin their power base.

“At last, Tory MPs are putting the interests of the country first, and today they have an opportunity to stop the rot in our democratic system.”

What next?

If the PM is voted out this evening, a leadership contest would take place in two stages.

First, all Tory MPs take part in a series of votes to reduce the number of candidates to just two.

Then, the remaining two candidates are put to a vote of Conservative party members.

What are the Tories saying?

Senior Tories are striking a different tone to that of Oldham’s Labour MPs.

Speaking shortly after Sir Graham made his announcement, Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Sky News: “If there is (a vote) the Prime Minister will stand and fight his corner with a very, very strong case.”

The Oldham Times: Health Secretary Sajid Javid Health Secretary Sajid Javid

A No 10 spokeswoman said: “Tonight is a chance to end months of speculation and allow the Government to draw a line and move on, delivering on the people’s priorities.

“The PM welcomes the opportunity to make his case to MPs and will remind them that when they’re united and focused on the issues that matter to voters, there is no more formidable political force.”

Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden tweeted: “I will be voting for Boris Johnson in the confidence vote tonight.

“He’s demonstrated real leadership in getting the big calls right as PM – Brexit, vaccines, reopening and Ukraine.

“I hope after this vote we can come together and focus on the future. Let’s face the big challenges united and focused on delivery.”

What about other parties?

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the confidence vote marks “judgment day” for the Prime Minister.

“It’s judgment day for Conservative MPs and their sleaze-ridden Prime Minister,” he tweeted.

“If they fail to sack Boris Johnson, it will be an insult to all those who made sacrifices and suffered while he partied.”

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer tweeted: