MPs' mixed reaction as Boris Johnson survives confidence vote

There was a mixture of “concern” and “relief” from Labour and Conservative MPs.  

The prime minister (above) faced the vote after 54 MPs raised concern over his conduct and leadership in the face of the pandemic and Partygate.

Conservative MPs voted by 211 to 148 to keep Mr Johnson as party leader and prime minister.

Tory MPs Alex Stafford, for Rother Valley, and Nick Fletcher, for Don Valley, backed Mr Johnson and  called for a “line to be drawn” under the issue and for MPs “get on with the job”.

But opposition MPs criticised the prime minister’s leadership and called for him to quit.  

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said: “There is no doubt in my mind that Boris Johnson is unfit for office.

“'He presided over a culture of lies and law breaking in the heart of government.

“His continued presence in Downing Street is a distraction from the very serious issues we face as a country, including the skyrocketing cost of living and the war in Ukraine.

“The Tory party had a chance to show some backbone and to hold Boris Johnson to account.

“They have failed to do so.

“It's clear the Prime Minister has lost the support of Parliament.

“With more than 40 per cent of his own MPs believing he should go, his authority stands in tatters and the next six months will be wasted on the Tories trying to shore him up, rather than focusing on the needs of our people.

“For once, he should put the country first and resign.”

John Healey, Labour MP for Wentworth & Dearne, said: “Conservative MPs have made their choice.

“They chose to back a prime minister who has presided over a culture of lies and lawbreaking at the heart of government.

“This is bad for Britain.

“The Tories are a deeply divided Government that is propping up a Prime Minister with no plan for the future or for helping pensioners, families and hard-working people cope with the problems they face.”