By Tony O’ Reilly-
The Uk government has tabled a no-confidence motion in itself after blocking Labour’s bid to remove Boris Johnson from office immediately.
Labour’s request was for a confidence motion in the government as well as the prime minister, aimed at triggering a snap general election.
The Uk government has accused the opposition of “playing politics”, claiming it was not “a valuable use of parliamentary time” because the PM has already resigned.
The tabling of its own confidence motion has afforded Mr Johnson the ability of setting the wording in such a way as to make it easier for his party to vote for it. It is thought Tory MPs are more likely to back the government’s motion, as it will not constitute an endorsement of Mr Johnson.
A government spokesperson said today: “Labour were given the option to table a straightforward vote of no confidence in the government in keeping with convention, however they chose not to
“To remedy this we are tabling a motion which gives the House the opportunity to decide if it has confidence in the government.
“The government will always allow time for appropriate House matters while ensuring that it delivers parliamentary business to help improve people’s everyday lives.”
Labour claimed the motion that they tabled was in order and that they had precedent based on the 1965 vote of no confidence there was with Ted Heath and Harold Wilson.
They said the government’s decision to table its own no-confidence motion shows it was “concerned” it would lose the vote on the original one they proposed.
A Labour spokesman said: “If the government wants to table a different motion, that’s obviously up to them.
“But what’s clear is that the government was concerned it would lose the vote on the motion that we had put forward, otherwise why are they putting forward this alternative motion on Monday?
“We look forward to the dozens of Conservative MPs who have already expressed no confidence in Boris Johnson in writing to vote accordingly next week because to do anything else would be brazen hypocrisy.”
Labour has long called for Mr Johnson to step down immediately rather than stay in post until 5 September, when a new Conservative leader will be chosen.
However, the prime minister wants to resign at a time of his own choosing, in September, and not be forced out quickly according to Labour’s time table.
The government’s motion was announced as Mr Johnson faced his first PMQs since he resigned as prime minister last week.
Sir Keir Starmer said the PM can finally “throw off the shackles, say what he really thinks, and forget about following the rules”.
He described Mr Johnson as “totally deluded to the bitter end” and told MPs: “I really am going to miss this weekly nonsense from him.”
The prime minister hit back with a sarcastic tribute to the opposition leader, saying he has “never come up with an idea”.
He said: “It is possible this will be our last confrontation over this.
“So I want to thank him. I want to thank him for the style in which he’s conducted himself.
“I think it would be fair to say he’s been considerably less lethal than many other members of this House.”
Mr Johnson said although he was not leaving at the time of his choosing, he would do so with his “head held high”.
Tory MPs are beginning the first round of voting to choose Boris Johnson’s successor – there eight candidates on the ballot paper
Johnson has taken MPs’ questions during rowdy scenes in the Commons – he said he was “leaving with my head held high”
Candidates need at least 30 votes to go through to the next round
Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Tom Tugendhat and Nadhim Zahawi are all in the running.