- Friday, April 26, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
EMBATTLED British prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday (6) survived a no-confidence vote by his own Conservative members of parliament (MPs) against his leadership but yet, not many observers are optimistic about his future in the power seat.
Johnson, who will turn 58 later this month, got the backing of 211 MPs while 148 votes went against him, a result which made many say that his authority now stands weakened and intra-party rifts exposed.
ALSO READ: ‘I’d do it again’: Battling Boris says ahead of no-confidence vote
The voting on Monday rounded off a frenzied day of high political drama and speculation as Johnson, who took over in July 2019, personally requested his party backbenchers to continue having faith in him as the premier, despite the damaging partygate scandal of Covid-19 law-flouting parties at Downing Street and other government offices.
While Johnson said the result of the voting went in his favour decisively — 58.8 per cent for versus 41.2 per cent against, his critics said that had a damaging impact on his long-term future as a leader of the Conservative Party.
Twitter was flooded with viewpoints on the outcome of the voting that Johnson survived.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who served as the leader of the opposition between 2015 and 2020, tweeted, “Tonight’s vote on Boris Johnson’s leadership will not provide any comfort to the millions of families pushed into poverty by the soaring cost of living, relying on food banks and struggling to pay the bills. They need real change and policies to give them hope for the future.”
Tonight’s vote on Boris Johnson’s leadership will not provide any comfort to the millions of families pushed into poverty by the soaring cost of living, relying on food banks and struggling to pay the bills.
They need real change and policies to give them hope for the future.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 6, 2022
Corbyn’s successor and current leader of the opposition party Keir Starmer said, “The choice is clearer than ever before: Divided Tories propping up Boris Johnson with no plan to tackle the issues you are facing. 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.”
The choice is clearer than ever before:
Divided Tories propping up Boris Johnson with no plan to tackle the issues you are facing.
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.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 6, 2022
Rory Stewart, former British secretary of state for internal development, said in a tweet, “Remove the “payroll” vote – and look at the free vote from backbenchers. Almost 75% of all Tory MPs not dependent on his patronage voted against him. This is the end for Boris Johnson. The only question is how long the agony is prolonged. @RestIsPolitics”
Remove the “payroll” vote – and look at the free vote from backbenchers. Almost 75% of all Tory MPs not dependent on his patronage voted against him. This is the end for Boris Johnson. The only question is how long the agony is prolonged. @RestIsPolitics
— Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) June 6, 2022
British journalist Ash Sarkar said in a tweet, “Boris Johnson only wanted to be Prime Minister because he lacks the hip flexibility to suck himself off. And a section of the political and media class were perfectly aware of this, but catapulted him to power still because he was a useful vehicle for their own priorities.”
Boris Johnson only wanted to be Prime Minister because he lacks the hip flexibility to suck himself off.
And a section of the political and media class were perfectly aware of this, but catapulted him to power still because he was a useful vehicle for their own priorities.
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) June 7, 2022
Nicholas Watt, political editor, BBC Newsnight said, “One minister tells me there is no comparison between Boris Johnson winning tonight by a higher margin than Margaret Thatcher in 1990. Minister: “Key difference in 1990 Mrs Thatcher was up against an actual and credible candidate. Today was entirely a judgement on him. Far worse.”
One minister tells me there is no comparison between Boris Johnson winning tonight by a higher margin than Margaret Thatcher in 1990. Minister: “Key difference in 1990 Mrs Thatcher was up against an actual and credible candidate. Today was entirely a judgement on him. Far worse.”
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) June 6, 2022
Scientists for EU founder and media commentator Mike Galsworthy said in a tweet, “Good morning all. Last night, the Conservative Party missed a huge opportunity to hit refresh on its brand. Boris Johnson is now the only brand the Conservatives have – and the only concrete associations with that brand are 1) moral corruption and 2) when/how will he be ousted.”
Good morning all.
Last night, the Conservative Party missed a huge opportunity to hit refresh on its brand.
Boris Johnson is now the only brand the Conservatives have – and the only concrete associations with that brand are 1) moral corruption and 2) when/how will he be ousted.
— Mike Galsworthy 🇺🇦 (@mikegalsworthy) June 7, 2022
