Conservative rebels target 32 ‘flipper’ MPs who could be turned against Boris Johnson

REBEL Tories are targeting dozens of “flipper” MPs who could end up destroying Boris Johnson’s premiership.

Plotters have drawn up lists of MPs who were on the verge of voting against the PM last week.

The rebels plan to plug away at the fed-up group, knowing that just 32 switchers are needed to depose him.

The senior backbenchers want to be ready to pounce if and when there is a second vote of no confidence in the Conservative leader.

Backbench chief Sir Graham Brady said the current 12-month grace period is likely to remain in place after Monday’s dramatic vote.

But one senior source said: “We are looking at those who are flippable, those who have given the PM one last chance and are seen as prone to switching their allegiances.

“There have been pronouncements of public support, but there have been just as many nods and winks in corridors.”

Mr Johnson himself will spend the coming weeks on a charm offensive to keep those who backed him onside, even inviting them to Chequers next month.

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But sources say up to 20 MPs on the government payroll, including some ministers, would have voted against the PM in the secret ballot.

Foreign Office Minister Vicky Ford, Treasury Minister John Glen and Environment Minister Jo Churchill are seen as being on resignation-watch.

Ministerial aide Craig Williams said he’d given the PM “one last benefit of the doubt” and ex-Cabinet Minister John Whittingdale said he supported the PM but “only after giving it a lot of thought”.

Senior Tories fear the by-elections in Wakefield, and Tiverton and Honiton, will be lost, with the scale of defeat likely to make MPs still more jittery.

But one Tory MP has backed Mr Johnson saying: “Manchester United didn’t sack Alex Ferguson initially, they gave him a good run, before he achieved success.”

And ministers have slammed potential leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt’s pre-confidence vote attack on the PM as a “kamikaze” act.