Vote of no confidence
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:15 am
News reports that Sir Graham Brady has got the 15% and so a confidence vote will take place this evening.
Yep. I still suspect he'll survive, then they can't have another one in the next 12 months (as I understand it).Brightonian wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:15 am News reports that Sir Graham Brady has got the 15% and so a confidence vote will take place this evening.
Theresa May survived until she didn’t. The question will be whether Boris Johnson, who even if he wins will be damaged, will step down when mores hit hits the fan or whether he will have to be dragged out kicking and screaming.Rich Scopie wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:48 amYep. I still suspect he'll survive, then they can't have another one in the next 12 months (as I understand it).Brightonian wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:15 am News reports that Sir Graham Brady has got the 15% and so a confidence vote will take place this evening.
Yes. The 12 month thing is an internal party rule. If there is a majority to get rid of Johnson there is also likely to be a majority to change the 12 month rule.Stranger Mouse wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:08 amTheresa May survived until she didn’t. The question will be whether Boris Johnson, who even if he wins will be damaged, will step down when mores hit hits the fan or whether he will have to be dragged out kicking and screaming.Rich Scopie wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:48 amYep. I still suspect he'll survive, then they can't have another one in the next 12 months (as I understand it).Brightonian wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:15 am News reports that Sir Graham Brady has got the 15% and so a confidence vote will take place this evening.
Unless they rewrite the 1922 rules which they canRich Scopie wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:48 amYep. I still suspect he'll survive, then they can't have another one in the next 12 months (as I understand it).Brightonian wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:15 am News reports that Sir Graham Brady has got the 15% and so a confidence vote will take place this evening.
Yeah - I've just been reading about that. I think he's going to have be dragged kicking and screaming out of Downing Street, whatever happens.Stranger Mouse wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:44 amUnless they rewrite the 1922 rules which they canRich Scopie wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:48 amYep. I still suspect he'll survive, then they can't have another one in the next 12 months (as I understand it).Brightonian wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:15 am News reports that Sir Graham Brady has got the 15% and so a confidence vote will take place this evening.
He's basically fired as Tory leader but will remain as PM until there's a replacement. The technicalities of whether it's a demand to resign (which I can imagine - withdrawal of confidence generally requires a resignation, I think?) or a kicking out result in the same effect.gosling wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:05 am So if he loses tonight, does that mean he's fired or is he expected to resign? Just like on all the previous occasions where he should have resigned but didn't.
You'd hope that at the very least the 54 people who have a letter in will vote against... would be a bit odd otehrwiseWFJ wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:55 am Best case scenario is he survives with about 40% voting against. Tories then get trashed in by-elections but are stuck with a weak leader for a year.
I think this is unlikely though. If it's clear he won't be defeated, most won't vote against. He'll either be voted out or around 15-20 MPs at most will vote against.
It wouldn't surprise me if a few have sent letters to get the vote out of the way, and others would switch. Maybe my prediction is too pessimistic, but I think him scraping through in a close vote is unlikely.science_fox wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:57 amYou'd hope that at the very least the 54 people who have a letter in will vote against... would be a bit odd otehrwiseWFJ wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:55 am Best case scenario is he survives with about 40% voting against. Tories then get trashed in by-elections but are stuck with a weak leader for a year.
I think this is unlikely though. If it's clear he won't be defeated, most won't vote against. He'll either be voted out or around 15-20 MPs at most will vote against.
Having 40% voting against you is pretty uncomfortable, possibly too uncomfortable to remain as leader. Which is probably why what you say about "if it's clear he won't be defeated..." might be true - they wouldn't necessarily want to put the leader in such a difficult position with any alternative rather less popular.WFJ wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:55 am Best case scenario is he survives with about 40% voting against. Tories then get trashed in by-elections but are stuck with a weak leader for a year.
I think this is unlikely though. If it's clear he won't be defeated, most won't vote against. He'll either be voted out or around 15-20 MPs at most will vote against.
I think most Tory MPs are aware that Johnson will only do what is best for Johnson. Screwing over his party would only concern him insofar as it reflects badly on him. Short of a loss he will try to hang on and it will be up to his cabinet to publicly kick him out.IvanV wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 9:21 amHaving 40% voting against you is pretty uncomfortable, possibly too uncomfortable to remain as leader. Which is probably why what you say about "if it's clear he won't be defeated..." might be true - they wouldn't necessarily want to put the leader in such a difficult position with any alternative rather less popular.WFJ wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:55 am Best case scenario is he survives with about 40% voting against. Tories then get trashed in by-elections but are stuck with a weak leader for a year.
I think this is unlikely though. If it's clear he won't be defeated, most won't vote against. He'll either be voted out or around 15-20 MPs at most will vote against.
The institutions were a little different back then, but Mrs Thatcher got 54% in the first round of a leadership challenge, and still resigned. Under the rules then, she required a 15% lead to avoid a second ballot, and fell just short of that.
Everyone who votes for him will make sure he knows if he survives.El Pollo Diablo wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:58 am It's a secret ballot, there's no comebacks for anyone who votes against today.
I don't know, tbh. Obviously you're right that Johnson has no honour and will only concern himself with clinging onto No 10 as long as he can, and quite probably with some sort of petty revenge as well (a general election, perhaps). I'm just not sure that most Tory MPs have yet clocked that he's the apotheosis of self-interest. Double digit IQs and all that.WFJ wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 9:47 amI think most Tory MPs are aware that Johnson will only do what is best for Johnson. Screwing over his party would only concern him insofar as it reflects badly on him. Short of a loss he will try to hang on and it will be up to his cabinet to publicly kick him out.IvanV wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 9:21 amHaving 40% voting against you is pretty uncomfortable, possibly too uncomfortable to remain as leader. Which is probably why what you say about "if it's clear he won't be defeated..." might be true - they wouldn't necessarily want to put the leader in such a difficult position with any alternative rather less popular.WFJ wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:55 am Best case scenario is he survives with about 40% voting against. Tories then get trashed in by-elections but are stuck with a weak leader for a year.
I think this is unlikely though. If it's clear he won't be defeated, most won't vote against. He'll either be voted out or around 15-20 MPs at most will vote against.
The institutions were a little different back then, but Mrs Thatcher got 54% in the first round of a leadership challenge, and still resigned. Under the rules then, she required a 15% lead to avoid a second ballot, and fell just short of that.
If he survives, many of those who vote against him will, of course, let him know just how much they support him.Tessa K wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 9:51 amEveryone who votes for him will make sure he knows if he survives.El Pollo Diablo wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:58 am It's a secret ballot, there's no comebacks for anyone who votes against today.
As for some other results. In 2018 Theresa May won 64% of the vote and carried on for another year. In 1995 John Major won 66% and carried on until 1997.IvanV wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 9:21 amHaving 40% voting against you is pretty uncomfortable, possibly too uncomfortable to remain as leader. Which is probably why what you say about "if it's clear he won't be defeated..." might be true - they wouldn't necessarily want to put the leader in such a difficult position with any alternative rather less popular.WFJ wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:55 am Best case scenario is he survives with about 40% voting against. Tories then get trashed in by-elections but are stuck with a weak leader for a year.
I think this is unlikely though. If it's clear he won't be defeated, most won't vote against. He'll either be voted out or around 15-20 MPs at most will vote against.
The institutions were a little different back then, but Mrs Thatcher got 54% in the first round of a leadership challenge, and still resigned. Under the rules then, she required a 15% lead to avoid a second ballot, and fell just short of that.
I've tended to say he wouldn't get challenged until the replacement felt that they'd still have new leader bounce when they got to the next election, though with enough time to establish themselves. Now is about the earliest time for that.