54 Letters

OldnProud wrote:

"What's really quite worrying is that, according to that document, 25% of Conservative voters still think that Johnson is 'trustworthy'. In all seriousness, I honestly don't know how anyone, however strongly they support the Conservative party, can genuinely believe that."

George Orwell wrote:

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."

I think more might vote against him than expected, however much pressure the whips put on. Their names will no doubt be published, they know how their constituents feel about the PM, and I’d imagine many of them will think it could cost them their seat at the next election if they support him. Interesting day ahead.

Whitewavemark2

Johnson must have the cabinet vote as none of them would ever get a job in another government surely?

I thought I put this on further up, but perhaps not. While the 22 committee will know who sent in the letters (so a leak possible) no one will know how other vote. This is a secret ballot. That means it is more dangerous to Johnson,

I notice they are having it before the MPs really have time to discuss it with one another.

That is interesting. Is the ballot secret?

Great Orwell quote.
I think in all probability he will survive the vote but be mortally wounded, limping on until the by-elections in a couple of weeks.
If seats are lost then MPs will panic (for their own survival) and change the rules around another vote.
He’s doomed whatever.

Casdon

I think more might vote against him than expected, however much pressure the whips put on. Their names will no doubt be published, they know how their constituents feel about the PM, and I’d imagine many of them will think it could cost them their seat at the next election if they support him. Interesting day ahead.

Casdon, I don't believe (although I don't know) that the whips are involved. This is a Conservative party vote, not a parliamentary one. It is also secret so people might be persuaded but not coerced. I under Johnson was offering jobs over the weekend, however.

Just when you think things can only get better - Liz Truss for PM anyone?

?

DaisyAnne

Casdon

I think more might vote against him than expected, however much pressure the whips put on. Their names will no doubt be published, they know how their constituents feel about the PM, and I’d imagine many of them will think it could cost them their seat at the next election if they support him. Interesting day ahead.

Casdon, I don't believe (although I don't know) that the whips are involved. This is a Conservative party vote, not a parliamentary one. It is also secret so people might be persuaded but not coerced. I under Johnson was offering jobs over the weekend, however.

You’re right DaisyAnne, but I don’t think anything will stop the lobbying, desperate times and all that. Not a happy day to be a Tory MP with a conscience, I just hope many of them have one, and listen to it.

Farzanah

Great Orwell quote.
I think in all probability he will survive the vote but be mortally wounded, limping on until the by-elections in a couple of weeks.
If seats are lost then MPs will panic (for their own survival) and change the rules around another vote.
He’s doomed whatever.

I would agree Farzanah. It would be stunning if he were voted-out today.

The problem is that he will then have a year when they cannot vote against him. Most PMs were persuaded to go in the past. I cannot see Johnson doing that unless someone makes him a much better offer.

I wonder if it will come down to a vote of no confidence in the government and a GE. That would mean Conservatives voting against their party. However, if the byelections are bad enough and more news of, say fraud, or some such, leaked out, who knows?

He won’t necessarily have a year DaisyAnne. There are hints that the rules may change around this if the Tories lose seats at the by-elections.

I had heard that Farzenah, but not in much detail. I will certainly listen out for it today - and hope

What's stopped him making the NHS more efficient since he became PM?

PS. I wouldn't mind betting his idea of efficiency is waffly smoke and mirrors anyway. I have a feeling people might have wised up a bit.

Whitewavemark2

Sums it up in one letter

Jesse Norman is Kate Bingham's husband. I wonder what he thinks when Johnson takes the credit for the vaccine roll out.

United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Champion John Penrose has resigned because he believed it appeared Johnson had broken the Ministerial Code.

Jacob Rees-Mogg blaming Brexit and the "po-faced" brigade who don't like Johnson's character. Such a nice man

DaisyAnne

United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Champion John Penrose has resigned because he believed it appeared Johnson had broken the Ministerial Code.

That's interesting. John Penrose is Dido Harding's husband.

A lot of people have asked what happened to £37billion for the never particularly successful Test & Trace...

All these people who had no trouble with conniving at Johnson's corrupt government suddenly coming out of the woodwork is a bit

Rees Mogg says it only needs a majority of one to win the no confidence vote. True.

The unnamed Tory MP arrested on 16 May on charges of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office has not had the whip withdrawn. He will be able to vote by proxy. Innocent until proven guilty, of course, but there would be an irony in a one vote victory.

Goodness, David Davis has aged/does not look well.

Jesse Norman MP is married to Kate Bingham who organised the vaccine rollout.

I was pondering again today whilst pottering about in the garden and it dawned on me that if a Labour PM did half of the things that Johnson has done the electorate would be screaming that the communists had taken over….

I'm struck by the Twitter LedByDonkeys film which provides a potted history of his lies and misdemeanours over the decades. In many respects, I wish the controversy wasn't so focussed on the illegal gatherings but focussed more on a long career based on deception. Sadly, I think he will survive the vote and we will be stuck with him until the next GE.

According to the New Statesman, we should be looking for votes against between 120 and 150, assuming he will not lose. When scaled up, 121 equals those who voted against Major, 133 equals the proportion voting against May, and 147 represents those voting against Thatcher.

May and Thatcher were both forced to resign shortly thereafter – May announced her resignation within six months; Thatcher within 48 hours. Major clung on until the 1997 general election, an outcome no Tory MP can look back on creditably: the party lost 178 MPs of its 343 MPs.

Interestingly, the author, Harry Lambert, believes it is easier to get near to 180 than it was to get the required number of letters in. He reasons that this is a "for or against" vote. MPs cannot simply fail to support Johnson, as many have been doing.

What's stopped him making the NHS more efficient since he became PM?

Johnson’s real plan has never been to improve the NHS. It is in his best interests for the NHS to be publicly failing, so that the Tories can claim it is ‘irretrievably broken’ and therefore must be privatised! Of course, he will maintain his facade of lies to the British people about new hospitals etc. in order to keep us ‘on his side’. The man really does think we’re stupid???

In many respects, I wish the controversy wasn't so focussed on the illegal gatherings but focussed more on a long career based on deception

I agree! The man is a long-term serial liar - proven, over many years, to be deeply untrustworthy, in both his private and professional lives. He is a flawed character, yet the Tories elected him as their leader knowing this. He does not deserve to lead this country. I suppose ‘Partygate’ has become the final straw but, I too, wish people would focus on the bigger picture of Johnson’s lies stretching back many, many years.