London politics latest LIVE: Boris Johnson to address Conservative MPs as he battles to stay in No10

Harrogate MP ‘will vote against PM’

Harrogate MP Andrew Jones says he will be voting against the PM tonight.

Mr Jones had been critical of Boris Johnson’s actions following the publication of Sue Gray’s partygate report.

But he never confirmed he had submitted a confidence letter to the 1922 Committee.

In a statement on Monday, he said: “At the beginning of all the investigations into Partygate I said ‘lawmakers can’t be law breakers’.

“I meant it and that is, in part, why I will not be supporting the Prime Minister in tonight’s confidence vote.”

Confidence vote ‘will not be distraction’

Boris Johnson will not let Monday’s confidence vote distract him from his duties, Downing Street has said.

“The Prime Minister is firmly of the view that he will not be distracted from the key issues facing the UK and the world,” Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said.

“That is illustrated by the call he had with (Ukrainian President) Zelensky this morning.

“Equally there are key domestic challenges – Covid backlog, the cost-of-living pressures. I think he will be taking more action on in due course.”

Guildford MP ‘will vote against PM’

Guildford MP Angela Richardson has confirmed she will vote against Boris Johnson this evening.

In a statement she said: “From the very beginning of the issues surrounding the Prime Minister’s conduct during the lockdown period and his subsequent answers to parliamentary questions, I have been consistent in my views about the standards people expect of those in high office.

“Last week, I made a statement following the publication of the full Sue Gray report that questioned whether those standards had been upheld.

“The deep disappointment I expressed in a previous statement in January has not abated.

“Given that, I will be voting no confidence in Boris Johnson this evening.”

PM’s anti-corruption tsar resigns

Boris Johnson’s anti-corruption tsar has resigned and announced he will vote no confidence in his leadership in the ballot this evening.

John Penrose, MP for Weston-Super-Mare, said Mr Johnson’s actions over the partygate scandal constituted a “fundamental breach of the ministerial code”.

Mr Johnson has been accused of lying to parliament after telling MPs that “no rules had been broken” in Downing Street during lockdown. He later received a fixed penalty notice over one of the gatherings, while the Sue Gray report carried extensive details of lockdown breaches in No10.

“I hope you will now stand aside so we can look to the future and choose your successor,” Mr Penrose writes.

Another Tory MP announces they will vote no confidence

Angela Richardson, Conservative MP for Guildford, has announced she will vote no confidence in tonight’s vote.

She said in a statement: “From the very beginning of the issues surrounding the Prime Minister’s conduct during the lockdown period and his subsequent answers to parliamentary questions, I have been consistent in my views about the standards people expect of those in high office.

“Last week, I made a statement following the publication of the full Sue Gray report that questioned whether those standards had been upheld. The deep disappointment I expressed in a previous statement in January has not abated.

“Given that, I will be voting No Confidence in Boris Johnson this evening.”

PM ‘sending personalised letters to every Tory MP’

Boris Johnson is mounting a last-minute charm offensive on wavering Tory MPs to save his premiership, according to The Times’ Steven Swinford.

The PM reportedly writes: “I know over recent months I have come under a great deal of fire, I know that experience has been painful for the whole party.

“Some of criticism has been perhaps fair, some less so. I have listened and learned.”

Hunt calls for PM to go

Former minister Jeremy Hunt has called for “change” and said he would vote for the prime minister’s removal from office.

The Tory MP for South West Surrey, who is a favourite to run in a prospective leadership contest, tweeted: “Having been trusted with power, Conservative MPs know in our hearts we are not giving the British people the leadership they deserve.

“We are not offering the integrity, competence and vision necessary to unleash the enormous potential of our country.

“And because we are no longer trusted by the electorate, who know this too, we are set to lose the next general election.

“Anyone who believes our country is stronger, fairer & more prosperous when led by Conservatives should reflect that the consequence of not changing will be to hand the country to others who do not share those values. Today’s decision is change or lose. I will be voting for change.”

Reacting to his statement, Mr Rees-Mogg told Sky News that Mr Hunt “clearly wants another go” at leading the party after losing in the previous leadership election.

Rees-Mogg brands booing of Boris ‘folderol’

Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency Jacob Rees-Mogg has described the booing of Boris Johnson at St Paul’s on Saturday as “folderol”.

Shown the footage during an interview on Sky News, Mr Rees-Mogg responded: “That was all a bit miserable really”.

Folderol is defined as “trivial or nonsensical fuss” in the dictionary, for readers who understandably may not be familiar with Mr Rees-Mogg’s term.

“Anybody who’s influence by some muted noise that rather excited a few journalists would not be showing the judgement and wisdom you’d expect of a Conservative MP,” he added.

Pound rallies as Johnson faces confidence vote

The pound rallied against the US dollar and the euro after it was announced that the vote of confidence in Boris Johnson would go ahead.

Sterling rose 0.6 per cent to 1.26 US dollars and 0.4 per cent to 1.17 euros.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at interactive investor, said: “The pound will be closely watched this evening, with above average volatility expected around tonight’s decision.

“If Johnson loses, sterling, which in part signals international investor confidence in the UK, could get a boost and reverse some of the recent negativity.”

Watch: Starmer says Tory MPs should ‘show leadership’ and remove PM