Boris Johnson ‘won’t launch his power grab until the autumn’ – but will blast PM’s Brexit plans in Commons next week
The ex-Foreign Secretary is expected to make a speech when the Commons debates post-Brexit customs on Monday
BORIS Johnson won't launch a challenge to Theresa May until at least this autumn, it was claimed today.
The ex-Foreign Secretary is planning to make a speech in the Commons on Monday where he will blast the PM's Brexit strategy.
As MPs debate post-Brexit customs, Boris will intervene and set out a positive vision for life outside the EU.
Friends say he wants to prove critics wrong who claim he has no alternative plan for Brexit after rejecting Mrs May's Chequers deal.
But it's also said he plans to play the long game rather than trying to bring down the PM in the short term.
Reports claimed Mr Johnson won't come out swinging until the autumn, when Mrs May will have to navigate another tricky party conference.
A friend told The Times: "He will want to keep his head down.
“There are only two weeks before the summer recess and he will keep his powder dry."
Since last year's snap election, Boris has repeatedly declined to challenge the PM directly and trigger a leadership vote.
His former aide Guto Harri predicted last night that this time Mr Johnson will launch a bid for the top job - but fail.
Mr Harri said: "I would never underestimate Boris, but he’s now in grave danger of becoming the old boxer too desperate not to get back in the ring when he shouldn’t."
So far four junior frontbenchers have followed the lead of Mr Johnson, David Davis and Steve Baker by quitting the Government.
Last night Ben Bradley and Maria Caulfield left their posts as Tory vice-chairs, saying they can't back the PM on Brexit.
Sources from the European Research Group claim more MPs are poised to resign in coming days, in order to ramp up pressure on Mrs May.
But today Bernard Jenkin, a key Eurosceptic, today insisted the Prime Minister still has the support of backbench Tories.
Sir Bernard said: "ERG is not expecting any further resignations, nor were we expecting any in the first place.
"Nor do we expect leadership challenge. We are supporting Theresa for PM."
Anne-Marie Morris today refused to rule out adding her name to those who want to see Mrs May toppled.
She told the BBC's Daily Politics: "The crucial thing to me is how does Theresa perform, how does she listen to what we say?"
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Ex-leader William Hague warned the Brexiters that opposing the PM would be counter-productive because it could put our EU exit in danger.
He said: "There is a whole range of scenarios in which they get no Brexit, or an indefinitely delayed Brexit, or a change of government or a second referendum.
"It would be hard to say at this moment what the consequences would be, but the consequences would be very serious for delivering Brexit."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online politics team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours