Boris Johnson survives confidence vote, only 59% voted in favour

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, survived a confidence vote on Monday, but a revolt by 148 of his 359 Conservative Party legislators caused significant damage to his authority.

For Johnson to be removed, a majority of Conservative legislators — at least 180 – would have had to vote against him.

As a result, Johnson received 59 percent of his parliamentarians' support, which was lower than his predecessor Theresa May received in a confidence vote in 2018.

Following a landslide election victory in 2019, Johnson has faced rising scrutiny after he and his staff enjoyed alcohol-fueled parties in his Downing Street office and residence while Britain was subject to tight COVID-19 lockdowns.

The party triggered a challenge, requiring an anonymous vote of confidence in a leader who had previously been untouchable.

As a result of the move, MPs from various factions of the party revealed that they had turned against their leader. By remaining in office, the prime minister, according to one erstwhile ally, is insulting both the public and the party.

"You presided over a culture of casual law-breaking at 10 Downing Street in connection to COVID," former junior minister Jesse Norman said before the vote.

John Penrose, Johnson's anti-corruption chief, also resigned.

Dozens of Conservative lawmakers have expressed fear that Johnson, 57, may be losing his power to manage Britain, which is experiencing a recession, rising gasoline and food prices, and strike-induced travel mayhem in London.

But his cabinet of key ministers rallied around him, highlighting what they called the government's triumphs, such as the rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations and Britain's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In the hours before the election, Johnson informed his party's legislators that he would strengthen the economy and revert to classic Conservative ideas like tax cuts.