Four no-confidence letters in 24 hours: The Tory MPs who want Boris Johnson gone

Anthony Mangnall has become the latest MP to submit his letter of no confidence (Parliament)
Anthony Mangnall has become the latest MP to submit his letter of no confidence (Parliament)

A fourth Conservative MP has said he has submitted a letter of no-confidence in Boris Johnson in 24 hours as the Partygate scandal continues to threaten the prime minister.

Sir Gary Streeter has become the latest to go public with his letter after the damaging update from Sue Gray on the Partygate scandal.

The South West Devon MP wrote on Facebook: “I cannot reconcile the pain and sacrifice of the vast majority of the British Public during lockdown with the attitude and activities of those working in Downing Street.

“Accordingly, I have now submitted a letter seeking a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

“I have not come to this decision lightly. It is not my intention to say any more about this matter.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Anthony Mangnall MP revealed he had submitted a letter, saying the PM's "actions and mistruths are overshadowing" the work of the rest of the party.

He tweeted: "Standards in public life matter. At this time I can no longer support the PM. His actions and mistruths are overshadowing the extraordinary work of so many excellent ministers and colleagues.

"I have submitted a letter of no confidence."

Anthony Mangnall has confirmed he has submitted a letter of no confidence (Twitter)
Anthony Mangnall has confirmed he has submitted a letter of no confidence (Twitter)

It came just hours after former defence minister Tobias Ellwood also confirmed he would be submitting a letter.

He told Sky News: "I don't think the prime minister realises how worried colleagues are in every corner of the party - backbenchers and ministers alike. That this is all only going one way and will invariably slide towards a very ugly place.

"I believe it's time for the prime minister to take a grip of this; he himself should call a vote of confidence rather than waiting for the inevitable 54 letters to be eventually submitted.

"It's time to resolve this completely so the party can get back to governing, and, yes, I know the next question you will ask, I will be submitting my letter today to the 1922 Committee."

On Tuesday, Tory MP Peter Aldous confirmed he had also submitted his letter.

It is not known how many MPs have submitted letters to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee, as they are able to do so privately.

The MPs who have gone public so far are:

  • Sir Gary Streeter

  • Anthony Mangall

  • Tobias Ellwood

  • Peter Aldous

  • Andrew Bridgen

  • Douglas Ross

  • Sir Roger Gale

  • Christian Wakeford (who submitted a letter before defecting to Labour)

MPs who have also publicly called on Johnson to go - but have not confirmed if they have sent in their letters - include:

  • David Davis

  • Andrew Mitchell

  • William Wragg

  • Tim Loughton

  • Caroline Nokes

The PM had hoped that the rebellion had been quelled after a slimmed down of the Sue Gray report into alleged Downing Street parties was published.

Johnson seemed to have been offered a temporary reprieve after an intervention from the Met Police ensured Gray made "minimal reference" to events they are investigating, meaning details of rule-breaking were suppressed.

The report concluded that there were "failures of leadership" and behaviour that was "difficult to justify".

It also confirmed that police are investigating 12 potentially criminal events.

The PM endured a bruising two-hour questioning session in the House of Commons after the report was released on Monday, with a number of Tories seeming to turn on their leader.

Downing Street sources briefed the media that Johnson had managed to win many over at a meeting later that evening.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives to board an aircraft in London, for a flight to Kyiv, Ukraine as he holds crisis talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky amid rising tensions with Russia. Picture date: Tuesday February 1, 2022.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers a statement to MPs in the House of Commons on the Sue Gray report. Picture date: Monday January 31, 2022.
A limited version of the Sue Gray report was released on Monday, which despite only filling nine pages has once again rippled the pool of rebellion amongst backbench Tory MPs (PA)

A total of 54 Tory MPs - 15% of the parliamentary party - need to submit letters of no confidence to trigger a vote.

The party would then vote in the House of Commons on the fate of the prime minister.

If he were to win, he would remain in his position and is safe from the risk of another vote of no confidence for 12 months.

If he were to lose, then he would be ousted as party leader and the contest for a new one would begin.