Theresa May suggests she would fight any leadership challenge by Boris Johnson
2 min read
Theresa May has indicated that she would fight any challenge to her leadership by Boris Johnson and insisted she will be Prime Minister "for the long term".
Speculation is mounting that the former Foreign Secretary, who quit the Cabinet over Mrs May's Brexit strategy, is preparing to make a bid for the top job.
But speaking during her three-day visit to Africa, the Conservative leader re-iterated her earlier insistence that she has no intention of vacating 10 Downing Street any time soon.
Asked specifically if she would fight any challenge from Mr Johnson, the Prime Minister said: "I am in this for the long term. I am in this for delivering for the British people, and that’s what I’m focused on."
And asked by ITV if she had noticed how much Mr Johnson appeared to want her job, Mrs May said: "I was very pleased Boris was Foreign Secretary for the period that he was Foreign Secretary."
Senior Conservative MPs have told PoliticsHome that they believe a vote of no confidence in Mrs May's leadership could take place within weeks.
In particular, they point to her calls for Mr Johnson to apologise for likening Muslim women wearing burqas to letter boxes and bank robbers as another reason for grassroots discontent at her performance.
A total of 48 Tory MPs would have to submit a letter of no confidence in her leadership to trigger a formal vote, and as yet there is no indication that her internal critics are close to reaching that number.
Meanwhile, Mrs May will meet victims of modern slavery when she travels to Nigeria today.
The Prime Minister will also discuss security, trade and people trafficking with the country's president, Muhammadu Buhari.
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