Boris Johnson is starting a new week hoping that a fresh shake-up of his top Downing Street team will ease the concerns of Tory MPs – some of whom have publicly called for the prime minister to resign over his handling of the partygate scandal.
The prime minister made key changes to his staffing over the weekend – appointing Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay as his new chief of staff and former BBC journalist and long-time ally Guto Harri as his director of communications.
Meanwhile, The Times has reported that Number 10 is planning to announce the return of Dame Emily Lawson, who currently runs NHS England’s vaccination programme, as the new permanent secretary this week.
It comes after another two Conservative MPs called for Mr Johnson to quit on Friday – with Nick Gibb and Aaron Bell both submitting letters of no confidence in his leadership.
This brings the total number of MPs who have now called for the PM to go to 14 – although not all have formally communicated this to the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.
A confidence vote will be triggered if Sir Graham receives letters from 54 MPs, 15% of the parliamentary party, calling for a poll.
Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
On Sunday, Gavin Barwell, who served as chief of staff to Theresa May and now sits in the House of Lords, said there was not “a chance in hell” that Mr Johnson would voluntarily resign.
The Tory peer told Sky’s Trevor Phillips On Sunday: “My inclination is that the Conservative Party would be better making a change…
Source : skynews
