Opposition could move to oust Boris Johnson within days with confidence vote

Jeremy Corbyn is expected to meet the SNP and other opposition parties tomorrow to discuss the possibility of bringing down Boris Johnson within days.

The Labour leader, the SNP’s Ian Blackford, and Lib Dems’ Jo Swinson could launch a no confidence vote this week that would see the Prime Minister forced out of Downing Street.

Mr Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, yesterday told The Sunday Post he was in talks with “a number of parties on an ongoing basis” over plans for a no-confidence vote.

He said: “For me, it’s very simple. We have a Prime Minister who is behaving with a cavalier attitude, has been prepared to shut down Parliament and has been caught out.

“My message to colleagues is we cannot leave Boris Johnson in office – he has to be removed.

“Everyone has to accept their responsibilities to remove Boris Johnson, to put in place an individual who can secure an extension to the Article 50 exit process and to call a snap election.”

Sources have suggested the SNP’s decision to back Jeremy Corbyn to take over from Johnson may help secure Labour’s backing for a new independence referendum.

Other observers believe the Nationalists are keen to secure a general election before January when former First Minister Alex Salmond’s sexual assault trial is due to begin.

Current first minister Nicola Sturgeon last week said she’d be prepared to back Mr Corbyn as caretaker prime minister.

Ms Sturgeon said on social media: “Nothing is risk-free but leaving Johnson in post to force through no deal – or even a bad deal – seems like a terrible idea to me.”

It’s believed a no confidence vote could take place this week, coinciding with the Conservative Party conference being held from today until Wednesday.

However, the Lib Dems and many Tory rebels who’ve had the party whip withdrawn have insisted they are not prepared to put the Labour leader into No 10.

Opposition leaders have been reluctant to go for a confidence vote fearing that, under the rules, Mr Johnson could, even if defeated, remain as PM and delay a general election until after October 31 by which time Britain will be out of the EU.

But if the Government loses a no confidence vote and an alternative coalition is able to muster a Commons majority, a new PM would be appointed.

Meanwhile, a complaint to a police watchdog over Mr Johnson’s links with American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri was yesterday described by environment secretary Theresa Villiers as “pretty obviously politically motivated”.

It followed allegations Arcuri was given £126,000 in public money and access to official overseas trade missions led by Johnson when he was mayor of London. The PM denies any wrongdoing.