Dear John

Now what happens?

The Prime Minister's job is on the line like never before

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Health Secretary Sajid Javid, Vice-Chair of the Conservative Party Bim Afolami and several other ministers resigned last night (and it's started again this morning). Johnson has already appointed some replacements, but his authority is in tatters.

I have asked the Best for Britain team to prepare for a snap General Election, but we're not quite at action stations yet.

The resignations come days after the Deputy Chief Whip quit following accusations of sexual misconduct. The scandal again called into question the honesty, integrity and judgement of the Prime Minister, after the former Permanent Secretary to the Foreign Office Lord McDonald stated yesterday that the version of events being communicated by Number 10 and repeated by government ministers on numerous media appearances, was false.

Since taking power, Boris Johnson has presided over untold misery and economic vandalism, causing lasting damage to Britain’s institutions and international reputation. So we can only hope what we are witnessing now is the end of his sordid, authoritarian and deeply divisive regime.

John, I have to ask you now, as part of our preparations, to get new people involved in the campaign. You can sign up new Best for Britain supporters at bestforbritain.org/join or by sharing that page on social media.

Of course, since he survived a vote of no confidence recently he technically can't be challenged under Tory party rules. Previous PM's might be swayed by concepts like 'honour' or 'duty' and I suspect most would have resigned by now. But not Johnson. he's clinging on.

Backbench Conservative MPs get a chance to elect a new executive for the '1922 Committee' which sets the rules for leadership elections, with several MPs hoping to elect an executive that will swiftly change the rules. So we could see another vote of no confidence in the coming weeks. Should Johnson lose that, there would be a leadership election over the Summer which Johnson would be banned from standing in.

Johnson, earlier this year, gave himself the sole power to call an election. He got his MPs to pass a law that took the power away from Parliament and gave it to the Prime Minister. So he could just call an election. During an election Parliament is dissolved and there are no MPs, so he couldn't be challenged. Is this scenario too far-fetched? I'm not sure.

If the Prime Minister is defenestrated, Conservative MPs must draw a line under the cruel nativism which has defined their party for the last few years and served our country so poorly. They must elect a leader who will embrace internationalist values, repair relations with our closest allies, and remove the trade barriers which are inflating prices during a cost of living emergency. And either way, we need to be prepared.

Share the page at bestforbritain.org/join to grow the campaign. Let's gather all those, friends, acquaintances, who believe as you and I do, that enough is enough. Let's make sure Johnson's legacy is swiftly snuffed out.

Best wishes,

Naomi Smith
CEO, Best for Britain

PS. Ask everyone you know to join Best for Britain now. Recruitment is easiest when the stakes are high - and how much higher could they be? This is a fight for the future direction of our country. Recruit new supporters to join you and me. Together we will stand for openness, better democracy and closer relationships between the UK and Europe.