Boris Johnson faces a weekend with his future in limbo after it emerged a report into Downing Street parties will not be published until at least Monday.
The Prime Minister confirmed Sue Gray’s hotly-anticipated inquiry - which could decide his future - will only be revealed “next week” as he batted off bids to topple him in the Commons.
Conservatives claim they are “grinding slowly” towards the 54 MPs needed to trigger a no confidence vote in the Tory leader.
Some even claimed the threshold could be met today after a “pork pie plot” by 2019-intake MPs.
But that would risk a huge headache for plotters if Sue Gray’s report on multiple parties - which has interviewed the PM - is not yet published.
The last time the ‘no confidence’ threshold was met in 2018, the 1922 Committee held a vote that same day.
The speed of that vote wrong-footed opponents of Theresa May and she retained the confidence of the party.
Even if the threshold was met this week, one party figure predicted 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady would wait until next week to hold a no confidence vote.
“He gets to decide,” the senior Tory told the Mirror. “You’d think Sir Graham would wait until after the [Sue Gray] report comes back, so MPs can have an informed vote on the facts next week.”
Sources told the Mirror Tory leadership contenders are “trying to keep their heads down but definitely mobilising”.
Those considering a tilt at No10 are said to include Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Penny Mordaunt and Tom Tugendhat. Ex-candidate Jeremy Hunt and Health Secretary Sajid Javid have not ruled out running.
Dozens of Tory MPs are said to be holding their powder dry to see what Sue Gray says before submitting a letter of no confidence.
The civil servant will make findings of fact, but is unable to say if Boris Johnson broke the Ministerial Code. That can only happen via a separate process triggered and overseen by the PM himself.
Mr Johnson today furiously he would lead the Tories into the next election after Bury South MP Christian Wakeford made a shock defection to Labour.
But Armed Forces minister James Heappey stopped short of guaranteeing the PM was the best man to lead the party into 2024, saying only: “As things stand, right now, yes.”
And even one senior Tory who has refused to put in a letter warned it was now “in the balance” whether Boris Johnson will lead the Tories into the next election.
They said: “His stock in trade is popularity. If that’s gone, what’s left?”
The MP added: “A no confidence vote will be a disaster - even if he wins, it’s a hollow victory. It starts the stopwatch on his departure.
“He’ll have to keep going through the streets like Henry II being flagellated by the public - I don’t see how that stops.”
