When Boris Johnson suggested over the weekend that he was actively thinking about a third term as Prime Minister, it met a robust response from his MPs. Given many don’t want him to lead them into the next election – let alone the one after – Conservative MPs were quick to brand the comments as delusional. As one put it to me: ‘To say that comment is tin-eared and the wrong thing to say to Conservative MPs right now is the bloody understatement of the year to date’.
But putting aside the Prime Minister’s general election plans, it’s a vote that comes before even 2023 that could decide the his fate. As James first reported in The Spectator, the 1922 Committee elections are coming up – which will decide which MPs sit on the executive of the group that represents Tory backbenchers. There are 18 places – they can only be held by backbenchers – and the vote is due to take place ahead of the summer recess.
These votes are of the upmost importance whatever any candidate says
The reason this annual election is receiving more interest than normal is that the executive has the power to change the leadership rules.
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