Boris Johnson blocks fresh confidence vote to push him out of Downing Street

Opposition Labour Party attempt to prevent prime minister remaining in office until new Conservative leader is found

Boris Johnson became UK prime minister in July 2019, left, and resigned three years later in July 2022, right. Here 'The National' looks back at his colourful time as leader of the country. Getty Images / Reuters

Boris Johnson reads a statement outside 10 Downing Street, formally resigning as Conservative Party leader. PA

Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson attend the National Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth at St Paul's Cathedral in June 2022. Getty Images

Boris Johnson addresses the media after surviving a confidence vote in his leadership, in June 2022. PA

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, announcing that Mr Johnson had survived a confidence vote in his leadership at the Houses of Parliament in June. PA

Mr Johnson chats with residents in a Diamond Jubilee-themed room as he makes a constituency visit to Sweetcroft care home in Uxbridge, in May 2022. Getty Images

Boris Johnson reads the findings of the Sue Gray report into gatherings on government premises while Covid-19 restrictions were in place, in his office in No 10, Downing Street in May 2022. Photo: Downing Street

An image of a gathering in the Cabinet Room in No 10, Downing Street in June 2020 on the prime minister's birthday was released alongside the Sue Gray report. Photo: Cabinet Office

Boris Johnson with a Mark 3 shoulder launch missile system at Thales weapons manufacturer during a visit to Northern Ireland for talks, in May 2022 in Belfast. Getty Images

Mr Johnson having a turban placed on his head at Gujarat Bio Technology University, during his two-day trip to India in April. Getty Images

Mr Johnson after apologising to MPs for the 'partygate' fine he had received, in the House of Commons in April. AFP

Mr Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walking in central Kyiv, in April. AFP

Mr Johnson arrives for a media interview at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, in March 2022. Getty Images

Mr Johnson speaks with officers as he makes a constituency visit to Uxbridge police station in December 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson observes an early morning Merseyside Police raid on a home in Liverpool as part of 'Operation Toxic' to infiltrate county lines drug dealings in December 2021. Getty Images

Boris Johnson during a visit to Westport Care Home in Stepney Green, ahead of unveiling his long-awaited plan to fix the social care system, in September 2021. Getty Images

Prince Charles looks on as Boris Johnson attempts to open his umbrella at the National Memorial Arboretum in Stafford, in July 2021. Getty Images

President of the European Council Charles Michel, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Mr Johnson and Italian PM Mario Draghi pose for the leaders' official photo during the G7 summit in Cornwall, in June 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson poses with his wife Carrie in the garden of No 10, Downing Street following their wedding at Westminster Cathedral, in May 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson visits Hartlepool after the Conservative Party candidate Jill Mortimer won the Hartlepool by-election in May 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson receives his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, in March 2021. Getty Images

Mr Johnson smiles during a televised press conference at No 10, Downing Street in February 2021, as he announces a phased exit from the country's lockdown measures. Getty Images

Mr Johnson gives a thumbs-up gesture after signing the Brexit trade deal with the EU in No 10, Downing Street, in December 2020. Getty Images

Mr Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meet for a dinner to try to reach a breakthrough on a post-Brexit trade deal, in December 2020 in Brussels. Getty Images

Mr Johnson with a vial of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 candidate vaccine, known as AZD1222, at Wockhardt's pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, in November 2020, in Wrexham, Wales. Getty Images

Mr Johnson drills during his visit to Exeter College in September 2020. Getty Images

Mr Johnson holds crabs caught on the Carvela at Stromness Harbour in July 2020, during a visit to Scotland. Getty Images

Mr Johnson holds a painting of a ladybird during a visit to The Discovery School in West Malling, in July 2020. Getty Images

Mr Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds applaud for key workers outside No 10, Downing Street, in May 2020. Getty Images

Boris Johnson appears on monitors for a meeting in London. The prime minister chaired the morning update meeting remotely as he was self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19. Reuters

Boris Johnson makes a televised address to the nation from inside No 10, Downing Street, with the latest instructions to stay at home to help contain the Covid-19 pandemic, in March 2020. AFP

Mr Johnson attends the launch of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit at the Science Museum in London, in February 2020. Getty Images

Mr Johnson is greeted by staff at No 10, Downing Street, after meeting Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to form a new government in December 2019. PA

Mr Johnson and his partner Carrie enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory in December 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson drives a digger with the words 'Get Brexit Done' inside the digger bucket through a fake wall emblazoned with the word 'GRIDLOCK', during a general election campaign event in December 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson eats pie on the campaign bus in Derby, on the final day of campaigning before the general election in December 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson takes a turn in goal during the warm up before a girls' football match between Hazel Grove United JFC and Poynton Juniors in December 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson poses with workers as he is given a tour of Wilton Engineering Services as part of an election campaign trail stop in November 2019, in Middlesbrough. Getty Images

Mr Johnson poses for a photo wearing boxing gloves during a stop on his general election campaign trail in Manchester, in November 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson eats a rock sweet which reads 'Back Boris' during a general election campaign trail stop in Blackpool, in November 2019. Getty Images

Mr Johnson leads a bull around a pen as he visits Darnford Farm near Aberdeen, Scotland, in September 2019. Getty Images

Former US president Donald Trump and Mr Johnson arrive for a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in August 2019, in Biarritz, France. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth welcomes Mr Johnson as the newly elected leader of the Conservative party and invites him to become prime minister and form a new government, at Buckingham Palace in July 2019. Getty Images

A no-confidence motion in Boris Johnson’s government tabled on Tuesday was blocked by the Conservative Party after the Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer targeted the lame duck leader by name.

It means MPs from all parties would have the opportunity to decide if they want the government to continue — and could trigger a general election. But the government said it would not let the current wording through.

"We have given Labour the option to table a straightforward vote of no confidence in the Government," a spokesman said. "As the Prime Minister has already resigned and a leadership process is underway we do not feel this is a valuable use of parliamentary time. Should Labour amend their motion appropriately, they can have the next business day for it to be debated."

To succeed the measure would require Conservative MPs to vote against their own party while hunting for a new leader.

Mr Johnson "is leaving because his own party has concluded that he can’t be trusted," Sir Keir said. “They can’t now let him cling on for weeks, and weeks, and weeks until September 5. It would be intolerable for the country.

“Since the Tories have failed to act in the national interest, Labour will."

Last month, Mr Johnson won a tight confidence vote by his own MPs, after rivals had forced an internal referendum following damaging scandals, including a police fine over a Downing Street birthday party while the country was in Covid-19 lockdown.

The prime minister had argued the government could “move on” and focus on what “really matters to people”, but the lack of support from his own side, and one more scandal involving his handling of sexual harassment allegations surrounding one of his MPs, forced him to resign.

When Mr Johnson last week announced his departure as Conservative leader there were calls for him to step aside as prime minister, it was suggested his deputy Dominic Raab could become caretaker prime minister.

Instead, Mr Johnson formed a new Cabinet and insisted he would remain in No 10 until he can hand over the keys to his successor, which is now due to be September 5 after the rules of the contest were set out on Monday night.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had previously threatened to bring the confidence vote to prevent “this nonsense about clinging on for a few months”.

“He’s inflicted lies, fraud and chaos in the country,” Sir Keir said last week. “If they don’t get rid of him then Labour will step up, in the national interest, and bring a vote of no confidence because we can’t go on with this prime minister clinging on for months and months to come.”

Who could replace Boris Johnson?

There are currently 11 candidates declared to stand in the race but they must each find at least 20 backers before nominations close at 6pm today.

Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and Tom Tugendhat are known to have already secured enough supporters.

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi said he believes he has the necessary nominations from Tory colleagues.

Tax cuts have become a common theme of pledges from most of the candidates.

Even Rishi Sunak, who as chancellor oversaw tax rises during his time in charge, outlined plans to cut taxes when inflation has been brought back under control at a launch event in London on Tuesday.

He insisted it was a matter of "when not if" the tax burden starts to fall, as he unveiled heavyweight backing from cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps. Mr Shapps dropped out of the race after failing to gather enough support.

Mr Tugendhat, a former soldier and the chairman of a parliamentary foreign affairs commtitee, said tax cuts cannot be the “only round in the magazine” in stimulating economic growth.

Like the other contenders — apart from Mr Sunak — Mr Tugendhat is promising immediate tax cuts but will also argue for investment in skills and infrastructure, as well tax breaks for research and development.

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi said “cutting taxes isn’t a fairytale” in a swipe at his predecessor Rishi Sunak as he set out his pitch to Tory voters.

He said in his leadership campaign video that he would reform education to give pupils “the tools they need to succeed in life”.

“Faced by Russia and China it is clear we must increase our spending on defence,” he added. "And of course we need to reduce the burden of tax. I believe cutting taxes isn’t a fairytale but rather a critical step to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.”