Tory MP defending Boris is 'preparing his own leadership bid' with Conservatives 'alarmed' at boos for PM

Tory MP defending Boris is 'preparing his own leadership bid' with Conservatives 'alarmed' at boos for PM
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Anna Fox

By Anna Fox


Published: 04/06/2022

- 13:45

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:08

Columnist Dan Hodges reflects on crowds booing Boris at yesterday's Service of Thanksgiving and Tom Tugendhat as a future Prime Minister

Columnist Dan Hodges revealed he soon expects Prime Minister Boris Johnson to face a leadership challenge, in an exclusive interview with GB News presenter Alastair Stewart.

When probed on his assessment of the frosty reception of the Prime Minister at the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's yesterday, Mr Hodges said: "For Tory MPs who have been weighing up whether to finally make this move against Boris Johnson, I think they were looking very very closely and were indeed frankly very alarmed by the booing he received yesterday.


"Because a lot of what Tory MPs were saying to me yesterday was look this really shouldn't be the sort of crowd that is booing a conservative PM this should be Boris's base."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Symonds were booed at St Paul's yesterday
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Symonds were booed at St Paul's yesterday
POOL

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson were booed as they arrived at St Paul's yesterday, following the release of Sue Gray's report earlier this month.

Mr Hodges insinuated the Prime Minister will be facing increasing scrutiny next week, adding: "When we come back on Monday, Boris will be facing a leadership challenge".

Commenting on feedback he received from Conservative MPs, the columnist said: "General mood today is we are going to see a leadership contest triggered some time next week.

"We've had this contest speculated about for quite a long time".

GB News Presenter Alastair Stewart progressed the conversation on further, commenting on Tobias Elwood's statement on how the Conservative need to consider re entering the single market and sort out the post Brexit scenario.

Dan Hodges spoke in an exclusive interview with GB News Presenter Alastair Stewart
Dan Hodges spoke in an exclusive interview with GB News Presenter Alastair Stewart
GB NEWS

Alastair questioned Mr Hodges on Tom Tugendhat's stark retaliation to Mr Ellwood's comments, adding how the MP for Tonbridge and Malling displayed his own concerns on the Prime Minister's future.

Mr Hodges added how the MP's comments reflect how seriously he is preparing for a leadership contest, saying: "He's the one who's come out and stood up and said you know I would actually quite like to be PM".

The columnist said how Mr Tugendhat, who is usually associated with the one nation, liberal wing of the Conservative Party has come out and "very clearly said no we are putting this European issue to bed, this is not something we are not going to look at, and that just shows how serious he is about any potential candidacy".

28 Conservative MPs have currently publicly called for the Prime Minister to step down, sending letters of no confidence to the 1922 Committee.

54 letters of no-confidence are needed to spark a leadership ballot.

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