Greater Manchester's Conservative MPs are largely keeping their lips sealed over tonight's vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson's Prime Ministership. Two MPs from the 2019 General Election were quick to voice their support for Mr Johnson with another two posting their backing late this afternoon - but there has been silence from the remaining MPs.
Altrincham and Sale West MP and chair of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs, Sir Graham Brady, was always unlikely to comment due to him being the one who receives, counts, and triggers the vote of no confidence. He said in a statement this morning that enough letters had been received - 15 per cent of MPs - so a vote would be held.
He told reporters in Westminster: “I notified the Prime Minister yesterday that the threshold had been reached. We agreed the timetable for the confidence vote to take place and he shared my view – which is also in line with the rules that we have in place – that that vote should happen as soon as could reasonably take place and that would be today.”
READ MORE: Manchester residents speak out as Boris Johnson faces vote of no confidence
Of the other five only one, Bolton West's Chris Green, replied to requests for a comment. But this was to tell us that it would be 'radio silence from me'.
Cheadle MP Mary Robinson, and Hazel Grove MP, William Wragg, all did not respond to requests for a comment. James Daly, MP for Bury North, did not directly respond to our request, but posted a lengthy statement on his website in support of Mr Johnson. Mark Logan, MP for Bolton North East, also left it late to make his statement.
He said: "I am very disappointed about what has happened. I know from the many conversations I have had with constituents here in Bury, Ramsbottom and Tottington on the doorsteps and the letters and emails sent to me, that many people share these concerns. However, I also have to consider what the country as a whole needs now in the face of rising costs of living and a precarious international situation.
"I think the responsible thing to do then is to continue to support this government in tackling these problems. I can assure you, rightly, that the Government’s focus is and always will be to deliver on the priorities of the British people: strengthening our economy, creating jobs and levelling up the whole United Kingdom."
He then goes on to list a number of policies including the government's response to the Ukraine crisis and the 'Levelling Up' agenda before adding: "In my view, the Government must get on with the job at hand, and I will continue to hold them to account in delivering on these key priorities for the people of Bury, Ramsbottom and Tottington." James Daly was elected in 2019 with the smallest winning majority in the UK, just 105 votes.
Mark Logan, another shock result at the 2019 General Election posted to his website, saying: "I was infuriated and disappointed like many of my constituents who contacted me in January about the Downing Street parties. A blatant disregard for the rules during the pandemic was absolutely unacceptable and reflected the overall culture within the No.10 operation.
"When I met with the Prime Minister in January 2022, as your elected representative, I wanted him to understand the gravity of his actions and the palpable anger amongst Boltonians. We deserved better. We deserved change. We deserved leadership. Since then, I have seen notable changes at Number 10 - both in staff, culture and attitude. Sue Gray noted that she was 'pleased with the progress' within Downing Street.
"All this falls on the backdrop of the biggest peacetime crisis in a generation and war in Europe, where the Prime Minister has shown global leadership. This is why I will be voting for the Government in tonight’s confidence vote. Now is not the time to create more uncertainty for the country."
Of the remaining two MPs Mary Robinson has been relatively supportive of Mr Johnson during his time as Prime Minister, whereas William Wragg confirmed he submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson in December last year. Mr Wragg said the Prime Minister was 'no longer fit to govern' during an April debate.
Follow live updates on the no confidence vote here
Two MPs quickly offered their support to Boris Johnson this morning after the vote was announced. Mr Clarkson, who won his Heywood and Middleton seat by just 663 votes from Labour in 2019, is heavily critical of his Tory colleagues. In a Tweet, he said: "Absolutely crackers.
"This is a handful of malcontents who haven't provided and coherent alternative plan for the country (unless you count Tobias Ellwood's call to ignore the referendum result) - it's an exercise is ego fluffing and it'll only help Labour." This Tweet has been followed by several retweets of other Tories backing Mr Johnson.
Mr Clarkson was the first to outline their position on tonight's vote, shortly followed by Leigh MP James Grundy. Mr Grundy is another new MP from the 2019 General Election who took a traditional Labour 'red wall' seat, with many putting these victories down to Mr Johnson's strengths at the time of promising to 'Level Up' the north and 'Get Brexit Done'.
He took to Facebook criticising the vote, labelling it an 'establishment coup' with a picture of himself and the Prime Minister. He said: "Call me old fashioned, but I believe that the Prime Minister should be chosen by the British people in a General Election, not by some bloke called Rupert and his mates in an oak panelled gentleman's club in London via an establishment coup. 100% backing Boris."
The result of the confidence vote will be announced at 9pm, Sir Graham Brady has said. The vote was triggered after 54 Conservative MPs submitted letters of no confidence to Mr Brady. If the PM receives 180 votes of no confidence from Tory MPs, he will be forced to resign.
