Boris Johnson 'could face Tory coup' over no-deal Brexit stance

[Denzil_DC]

3. Sadly, it won't be as clear-cut as we might hope.

On 12 June, 8 Labour MPs voted against a Labour motion to block a no-deal Brexit: Kevin Barron, Ronnie Campbell, Jim Fitzpatrick , Caroline Flint , Stephen Hepburn , Kate Hoey, John Mann and Graham Stringer. And 13 more abstained: Clive Efford, Julie Elliott, Paul Farrelly, Hugh Gaffney, Imran Hussain, Barbara Keeley, Ian Lucas, Gordon Marsden, Melanie Onn, Ruth Smeeth, Gareth Snell, Jo Stevens and Derek Twigg.

Flint claimed yesterday that as many as 26 Labour MPs could pile in behind Johnson.

Heaven knows how the DUP might vote, but they won't want to see Corbyn getting even a sniff at the premiership.

Tory rebels will be scared of losing their seats to the Brexit Party, so are unlikely to want to see an early election. Similar pressures will apply to Labour MPs. Given the current polling, I'm not sure I want to see an early election either.

In short, we're screwn.

There might be more mileage in seeking to block Johnson in other votes than a fully fledged no-confidence motion.

I don't relish the idea of Hunt as prime minister either, but as the current wisdom in Tory circles goes, "only Boris can beat Boris". His no-show decision that's led to the likely cancellation of Sky's leadership debate tomorrow and his blustering refusal to give straight answers in interview and earlier hustings may be ringing some alarm bells beyond the hardcore Tory Brexit base, but whether it will be enough to topple him in the party election is anybody's guess.