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Boris Johnson's government is refusing to allow time to debate a vote of no confidence in the prime minister, Labour says.

The party tabled the motion in Parliament earlier, with the aim of challenging Conservative MPs to oust the prime minister as they simultaneously hold a leadership contest.

Labour wanted to hold the vote tomorrow, but the party says the government won't allow it to go ahead.

Downing Street says confidence votes are conventionally held in governments and not individuals, such as prime ministers.

"This is totally unprecedented," a Labour spokesperson says. "Yet again the Tories are changing the rules to protect their own dodgy mates.

"All the Tory leadership candidates should denounce this flagrant abuse of power to protect a discredited prime minister.”

In a statement, a government spokesperson said: “We have given Labour the option to table a straightforward vote of no confidence in the government.

"They have chosen to play politics by tabling a vote of no confidence in the government and the prime minister."