BRIDGWATER MP Ian Liddell-Grainger will cast his ballot against Boris Johnson in tonight's vote of confidence, he has confirmed.
The prime minister will face a vote of confidence between 6pm and 8pm tonight (Monday, June 6) after Sir Graham Brady confirmed he has received the 54 letters from Conservative MPs required to trigger the ballot.
Sir Graham chairs the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs.
The vote by secret ballot will take place at Westminster, and the count will take place immediately afterwards.
A majority of Tory MPs (180 in the current Parliament) must vote against Mr Johnson for him to be removed.
If he wins, Conservative MPs will be unable to call for another confidence vote in him for a year.
If he loses, there will be a Conservative Party leadership contest.
Mr Liddell-Grainger will vote by proxy in tonight's ballot as he is currently co-chairing the Africa Regional Conference in Sierra Leone.
The Bridgwater and West Somerset MP said: “I have already made my view clear both to the prime minister himself and to the chairman of the 1922 committee, a member of which will be submitting my vote.
“I believe he should step down for the good of the country.
“That is the only way to resolve this intolerable situation which is damaging both the Government’s ability to govern and the UK’s reputation on the world stage.
“And even if the prime minister survives tonight, my views on his position and the step I believe he should take will remain unchanged.”
Several Tory MPs have called for the prime minister's resignation following continued 'Partygate' allegations against him.
Others have expressed discontent with his economic policies, leadership style, and the “ugly” Rwanda policy.
Mr Johnson will address the 1922 Committee today.
A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street 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.”
Sir Graham said he informed Mr Johnson yesterday (Sunday) that the threshold of 15 per cent of the parliamentary party calling for a vote had been passed.
“I have followed the rules that we have in place,” he said.
“I notified the prime minister yesterday and we agreed the timetable for the confidence vote to take place.
“He shared my view, which is also in line with the rules that we have in place, that that vote should happen as soon as it could reasonably take place, and that would be today.”
Members of Mr Johnson's cabinet - including health secretary Sajid Javid, foreign secretary Liz Truss, chancellor Rishi Sunak, and deputy PM Dominic Raab - have expressed support for him.
Shortly after Sir Graham made his announcement, Mr Javid told Sky News: “If there is (a vote) the prime minister will stand and fight his corner with a very, very strong case.”
Ms Truss said: “The prime minister has my 100 per cent backing in today’s vote and I strongly encourage colleagues to support him.
“He has delivered on Covid recovery and supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
“He has apologised for mistakes made. We must now focus on economic growth.”
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