The Lib-Dem MP for Richmond Park has called on Tory MPs to vote against Boris Johnson in a confidence vote this evening.

Sarah Olney MP said: "When so many people in Richmond Park are suffering from spiralling bills and a cost of living emergency, we can't have a Prime Minister just focused on saving his own skin.

"It is time Conservative MPs finally do their patriotic duty and sack Boris Johnson. Our country needs strong leadership and we can't have any more of this nonsense."

She added: "The Conservative party is wasting precious time with these internal squabbles. Families want to see an emergency tax cut, not a Westminster soap opera.

"If Conservative MPs had the courage and decency to act months ago when the rest of the country all knew Boris Johnson had to go, then we wouldn't be in this mess right now."

Boris Johnson faces a confidence vote this evening against the background of law-breaking in Number 10, cover-ups and bad results in the local government elections.

The Conservatives were all but wiped out in Richmond with the result the party was left with just one councillor.

The pressure was turned up over the weekend after the Prime Minister was booed when arriving at St Paul's Cathedral by patriotic crowds celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

advertisement

It would need 180 Conservative MPs to vote against Johnson this evening to trigger a leadership contest. Critics appear to be hamstrung by a lack of an obvious replacement with Liz Truss the current favourite.

Former Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has suggested he is keen to stand, while Trade minister Penny Mordaunt failed to offer Johnson support in a tweet.

Both the local MPs, Sarah Olney and Munira Wilson, have been calling for Johnson to go for weeks.

It is widely believed that Johnson will win the confidence vote this evening – with the result due to come in by around 8pm. However, depending on the scale of the rebellion, he could be fatally undermined.

Munira Wilson MP has challenged Conservatives in the House of Commons to dump Boris Johnson in the vote tonight.

The Twickenham Lib-Dem MP said: "Tonight is the moment of truth for Conservative MPs. They must do the right thing and sack Boris Johnson once and for all."

She added: "Too much precious time has already been wasted with internal squabbles in the Conservative Party, and we can't have any more of this nonsense.

"With a cost of living crisis at home and a war in Europe, we need strong leadership we can trust.

advertisement

"This past weekend, the British public spilled onto the streets in a great show of patriotism to honour Her Majesty the Queen for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

"The Queen's unerring sense of duty sets an example for all of us. It is time to restore the same respect, integrity and sense of duty to the office of the Prime Minister."