Boris Johnson is facing a vote of no confidence by Tory MPs amid anger across the party at the disclosures over lockdown parties in Downing Street.

Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, confirmed in a statement that he has now received the 54 letters from Conservative MPs needed to trigger a vote.

The vote – by secret ballot – will take place at Westminster on Monday between 6pm and 8pm, with the count to take place immediately afterwards.

It comes after a steady stream of Tory MPs called publicly for the Prime Minister to stand down in the wake of Sue Gray’s report into breaches of the Covid regulations in No 10 and Whitehall.

 

In order to oust the Prime Minister however the rebels will need 180 MPs, and allies of Mr Johnson made clear he was determined to fight to stay on.

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.”

Danny Chambers, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Winchester and Chandler's Ford, said this morning: “Boris Johnson is totally unfit to lead this country. He has shown time and time again that he is a rule breaker, with no respect for the distinguished office he holds. It’s long time he went and we got some decency back into UK politics.

“The voters of Winchester and Chandler’s Ford deserve a Prime Minister who has a grip on the big issues of the day. Many people are struggling with their food bills, energy bills, NHS waiting times, having their holiday travel cancelled, and all they see is a Conservative Party in chaos. Winchester deserves better.”