Boris Johnson accuses Sir Keir Starmer of ‘playing ­politics’ as he blocks Labour’s no confidence vote

SIR Keir Starmer was accused of “playing politics” as Boris Johnson blocked Labour’s vote of no confidence in the government.

The opposition demanded a Parliamentary poll today just as Tory MPs start to vote on a new leader.

The PM stopped the move, with Downing Street saying the opposition had called into question the confidence of Boris – which would be a waste of Commons time as he had already resigned.

A government spokesman said Labour were given “the option to table a straightforward vote of no confidence in the government.”

But they added: “They have chosen to play politics by tabling a vote of no confidence in the government and the prime minister.

“As the prime minister has already resigned and a leadership process is underway we do not feel this is a valuable use of parliamentary time.”

They said they would have the vote it they amended the motion.

Labour said they would not change the wording referencing two previous confidence votes as precedent.

But Nikki da Costa, Johnson’s former director of legislative affairs, backed the government’s approach, saying it was “not a traditional confidence vote”.

A Labour spokeswoman said: “This clapped-out government is running scared and refusing to allow time to debate Labour’s vote of no confidence motion.