Kemi Badenoch has said “some” Labour MPs have given “indications” they would back the Tories in a no confidence vote on Keir Starmer.
The PM faced his toughest battle to remain in No10 on Monday, after the resignations of Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allen coupled with Scottish leader Anas Sarwar calling for Sir Keir to resign in a press conference.
While meetings with Labour MPs last night and the cabinet this morning, it appeared Sir Keir had steadied the ship for the time being.
However, Mrs Badenoch this morning said: “We’ve always been prepared to table a motion of no confidence, but what I want to see is us winning a motion of no confidence and that is why I made the offer to Labour MPs.
“Some have given us indications, but we’re not at the stage yet where the Prime Minister would lose such a motion. But I believe that the MPs behind him have lost confidence in the Prime Minister.
“They’re just now afraid for a general election because they know they would all lose their jobs.”
The Tories, as official Opposition, can table a motion of no confidence in the Government at any time.
Should the Government lose the vote, it would be expected to resign or go to a General Election – though the chances of this look slim.
Ms Badenoch told the Press Association: “Labour MPs and the Labour Party have lost confidence in their leader, but the MPs are too scared of losing their jobs, so they’re not going to call an election, and they’ve given him a stay of execution.
“The sad thing is that the country is suffering from not being governed at all.”
