Game, set and match? Keir Starmer heads to Wimbledon as Labour leader plots bid to smash Boris out of No10 – if Tory MPs don’t do it – with no confidence vote
- Keir Starmer takes a break from Westminster drama to enjoy day at Wimbledon
- Labour leader spotted enjoying the posh seats in Centre Court’s Royal Box
- He earlier vowed to table Commons no confidence motion in bid to eject PM
Sir Keir Starmer took a break from the drama unfolding at Westminster today as the Labour leader headed to Wimbledon.
The left-wing politician was spotted enjoying the posh seats in Centre Court’s Royal Box, alongside his wife Victoria, on women’s semi-finals day.
His journey from SW1A to SW19 came shortly after he unveiled a plot to remove Boris Johnson from power immediately.
The Prime Minister, who has seen vast swathes of Tory MPs turn against him over the past 48 hours, this afternoon announced his intention to leave Downing Street.
But Mr Johnson also revealed how he wants to stay in office until a new Tory leader is elected, which could take a number of weeks, if not months.
Many Conservatives’ are resisting the PM’s plan – wanting him to go as soon as possible – and Sir Keir had earlier attempted to further fuel the Tory civil war.
He vowed to table a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson and the Government in the House of Commons, if the PM was not removed immediately.
Sir Keir Starmer took a break from the drama unfolding at Westminster today and headed to Wimbledon
The Labour leader was spotted enjoying the posh seats in Centre Court’s Royal Box, alongside his wife Victoria, on women’s semi-finals day
Sir Keir’s journey from SW1A to SW19 came shortly after he unveiled a plot to remove Boris Johnson from power immediately
The Labour leader is effectively daring Tory critics of the PM to vote with opposition parties to bring down Mr Johnson’s Government and forcibly eject him from power.
But the plot risks triggering a general election, which Sir Keir would head into with a huge question mark still lingering over his own political future.
He has repeatedly vowed to resign himself if he is fined by Durham Police over the ‘Beergate’ allegations that he broke Covid rules with a boozy curry in April last year.
Commenting on Mr Johnson’s quit pledge, Sir Keir said: ‘He needs to go completely, none of this nonsense about clinging on for a few months.
‘He’s inflicted lies, fraud and chaos on the country.
‘We’re stuck with a Government which isn’t functioning in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
‘All of those who have been propping him up should be utterly ashamed of themselves.
In a message to Tory MPs, Sir Keir added: ‘He needs to go, he can’t cling on in this way. His own party have finally concluded that he’s unfit to be Prime Minister.
‘They can’t now inflict him on the country for the next few months.’
And, making his promise of a no confidence vote if the PM does not leave No10 immediately, Sir Keir said: ‘If they don’t get rid of him then Labour will step up in the national interest and bring a vote of no confidence.
‘Because we can’t go on with this Prime Minister clinging on for months and months to come.’
Lord William Hague and the ex-Conservative leader’s wife Ffion also enjoyed an afternoon of tennis
Lord Hague last month said Boris Johnson staying on as PM would be ‘like trying to drive along the M1 with two flat tyres’
Sir Keir was joined in Centre Court’s Royal Box by a fellow critic of Mr Johnson, as Tory grandee Lord William Hague and the ex-Conservative leader’s wife Ffion also enjoyed an afternoon of tennis.
Lord Hague last month said Mr Johnson staying on as PM would be ‘like trying to drive along the M1 with two flat tyres’.
The Labour leader is a keen sports fan – but it is something that recently got him into trouble with parliamentary authorities.
Last month, an investigation was launched into claims Sir Keir twice broke the MPs’ rules of conduct on registering interests.
It is said to relate to the late registration of freebie football tickets, as well as book royalties.
The Labour leader received tickets from Premier League sides Crystal Palace in April and Watford in May worth more than £2,000.
Both matches were to watch Arsenal, the team Sir Keir supports.
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