Boris Johnson faced another day in Downing Street yesterday after more than 40 MPs, including ex-Wales minister Simon Hart, resigned from the Prime Minister’s government. After acting on the Prime Minister’s questions in the House of Commons, Mr Johnson answered questions from the powerful liaison committee of senior backbench MPs.
Mr Johnson told MPs: “The best way to have a period of stability and government and not have snap elections is to allow people with mandates to run.”
When asked by Harwich & North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin whether he would consider calling a general election soon, the Prime Minister said: “I see absolutely no need for elections.”
But Mr Johnson added: “The last thing this country needs is elections.
“On the contrary, the risk is that people will continue to focus on these kinds of things and I think that is a mistake.”
He went on to “rule out” a quick poll, even claiming the earliest date for an election would be in “two years.”
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However, an ally of the prime minister suggested that Johnson could still hold quick general elections to deter his opponents.
Speak with express.co.ukthe supporter said: “Boris doesn’t look like a man on ropes.
“He was indeed cheerful and cheerful at the Liaison Committee.
“I think he’s going for early elections.
“Bernard Jenkin was very determined to rule it out in committee.
“People versus politicians, just like in December 2019. The polls are closing.
“Of course it’s risky, but he may not have a choice.”
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After the government passed a law repealing the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, the Dissolution and Convocation of Parliaments Act, the power to call general elections was returned to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister should “request” the dissolution of Parliament and the Queen’s right to early elections.
However, the so-called ‘Lascelles Principles’ describe how the British monarch can refuse such a request from the country’s leading parliamentarian.
In 1950, King George VI’s chief of staff, Sir Alan “Tommy” Lascelles, wrote that the head of state can refuse an election if the existing parliament is vital, viable and able to do its job, if a general election would be detrimental to national elections. economy or if the sovereign can rely on finding another prime minister who can rule for a reasonable period of time with a working majority in the House of Commons.
Despite speculation about snap elections, a YouGov poll found that 69 percent of Britons want Johnson to resign, including 54 percent of 2019’s Conservative voters.
The polling station also gives Sir Keir Starmer’s Labor Party a three-point lead over the Conservatives.
If such a ballot box were to be followed, Mr Johnson would likely be kicked out of number 10 by the British people and Mr Starmer might even turn to the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party for a Labor -administration in number 10 support.
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In 2019, when Mr Johnson last called snap elections, YouGov gave Conservatives a whopping 12 points lead over Jeremy Corbyn’s Labor party.
The Prime Minister returned to Downing Street with the Tory party’s largest majority since 1987, after promising to ‘get Brexit done’.
Johnson is now under pressure within his own party and his opponents are hoping for a second confidence vote next week.
Andrew Bridgen, who supported Boris Johnson for the top job in 2019, told: express.co.uk“The result of a second confidence vote would be humiliating for Boris Johnson, his support in the parliamentary party has fallen to less than 100 out of 359 MPs.”
The North West Leicestershire MP, who backs Brexit, added: “He must resign and leave with an ounce of decency.”
A second confidence vote could come if Monday’s 1922 elections lead MPs who support changes to the executive’s rules of procedure to join the backseat of the Conservative committee.
About 18 MPs will run for election on a ticket to change the rules, while allies of Mr Johnson will look to those who want to maintain the status quo.