Saturday 25 June 2022 10:09 AM Boris Johnson plays down bruising double by-election defeat as 'safety valve' trends now
Boris Johnson today played down the Tories' bruising double by-election defeat - as backbench rebels plot a fresh bid to oust him amid growing concerns over his premiership.
The Prime Minister took responsibility for humbling losses in Tiverton and Wakefield, and said the votes gave the public a 'safety valve' of letting off at governments.
But Mr Johnson claimed voters were fed up with hearing about how he had 'stuffed up' in recent months and insisted: 'If you're saying you want me to undergo some sort of psychological transformation... that's not going to happen.'
It comes as MPs looking to remove Mr Johnson are throwing their hat into the ring for the most senior posts on the influential 1922 Committee, which runs the rule over party confidence votes.
The PM survived such a poll earlier this month, even though a massive 41% of blue seats in the House not backing him, and under current committee rules, another referendum on the leader cannot be held for another year.
But rebels want to scrap that policy, according to the Telegraph, and can do so if agreed by a majority of 10 out of the 18 senior figures on the committee.
At least three are seeking election to such roles, with one telling the paper: 'We could be heading into a world where the situation is beyond a joke. At that point, you need officers who are willing to say: Enough's enough.'
Another MP who has previously given Mr Johnson his support in public has now told the Guardian: 'It wouldn't do him any harm if he wanted to look in the mirror. He needs to ask himself: have I got the stomach for this, and am I going to be able to do this. Is it me?'
Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey celebrates with supporters and activists gathered at the Lowman Green Clock Tower in Tiverton
The Prime Minister was in a bullish mood as he spoke to Sky News and BBC Radio Four's Today programme from Kigali, Rwanda, this morning to respond to another difficult week for him and the Conservatives.
Asked about his comments on Friday that he expects voters to beat him up, Boris Johnson told Sky News: 'Well, I was speaking metaphorically and what I mean is that when you're the leader of a
