By Tony O’Reilly-
Boris Johnson has narrowly survived a vote of confidence among Tory MPs – but suffered a rebellion bigger than Theresa May.
He survived by 211 MPs , compared to 148 votes against – a majority of 63.
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The prime minister needed a simple majority of 180 votes or more to continue in office, and exceeded that number.
The prime minister is now immune from another leadership challenge for 12 months, under current Conservative Party rules, though his leadership damaged. He will need to make up for the knock in confidence somehow.
The vote ratio in support of Mr Johnson was lower than the 63% received by former Prime Minister Theresa May when she won a party confidence vote in 2018, before resigning six months later over a political stalemate in Brexit.
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Mr Johnson described his confidence vote win as “decisive”, adding that it was a “very good”, “convincing” result and “an opportunity to put behind us all the stuff that the media goes on about”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said a “divided” Conservative Party was “propping up” Mr Johnson.
“The choice is clearer than ever before: Divided Tories propping up Boris Johnson with no plan to tackle the issues you are facing,” he tweeted.
“Or a united Labour Party with a plan to fix the cost-of-living crisis and restore trust in politics. Labour will get Britain back on track.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Tory MPs are “now fully responsible” for Mr Johnson’s behaviour.
“Whilst Boris Johnson has clung on today – make no mistake, his reputation is in tatters and his authority is now totally shot,” he said. “It’s clear that the prime minister and the Conservative Party are laughing at the British public.”
It comes after a surge of MPs called publicly for Mr Johnson to stand down following Sue Gray’s damning report into partygate.
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