'Decisive': UK PM Boris Johnson on Surviving No-Confidence Vote by 211-148

PM Boris Johnson.

(File Photo)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday, 6 June, survived the no-confidence vote against him over 'partygate', initiated by MPs of his own political party.

359 votes were cast, out of which 211 were in confidence, while 148 Conservative lawmakers voted to remove him.

Nevertheless, it means that more than 40 percent of MPs from the Conservative Party voted against their own leader.

Calling the vote on his leadership 'decisive', the UK PM reacted to the development saying that "as a government, we can move on and focus on that stuff that really matters," BBC reported.

The PM also took to Twitter to post a video message following the vote and said,

Meanwhile, immediately after the results of the vote were declared, Leader of the Opposition Kier Starmer tweeted that the UK faces a choice between "divided Tories" and a "united Labour party".

The no-confidence vote against Johnson occurred in the backdrop of extreme anger among the Torys regarding Sue Gray's report that described the rule-breaking and partying in Downing Street while the rest of the country was in lockdown.

As many as 54 Tory MPs had written to Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, regarding the same.

The vote took place because according to the rules, at least 15 percent of Conservative MPs had to submit a letter of no-confidence against the prime minister.

Currently, there are 359 MPs from the Conservative Party, which is why 54 was the magic number to trigger the vote.

To remain in office, Johnson had to win at least 50 per cent of those 359 Tory votes. Therefore, the PM needed at least 180 votes to survive. He got 211.

If he had not secured a minimum of 180 votes, then he would have had to quit his post and the party would have had to choose a new leader as the next prime minister. Johnson would have remained as PM until his successor was selected.

Given that he has won, and based on the current rules of the British parliament, Johnson is safe from another no-confidence vote against him for the next 12 months.

What is the 'Partygate' Scandal?

Insiders who attended alleged parties held at 10 Downing Street during the COVID-19 lockdown in the country had revealed that there was a lot of crowd at the parties, and that some people even sat on others' laps.

After the scandal came to light, more than 40 MPs had called for Johnson's resignation.

The demand for Johnson's resignation was amplified after Sue Gray, a top civil servant, who submitted her scathing report on parties held at the PM's residence during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Scotland Yard had also fined Johnson for a birthday party held in the Cabinet Room of Downing Street in June 2020, thereby making him the first British leader to be fined for breaking the law.

In Parliament, the embattled prime minister had taken full responsibility for the parties held under his watch but refused to resign from his post over the allegations.

(With inputs from BBC and The Guardian)