Boris govt wins confidence vote

LONDON - Boris Johnson’s government has won a late-night confidence vote by 349 votes to 238 in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister, who is set to leave office on September 6, is now expected to continue in his role for the next seven weeks until a new Conservative Party leader is chosen to replace him.

MPs voted 349 to 238, majority 111, to support the motion stating that the Commons has confidence in the government. Johnson used his opening speech to run through what he perceived to be his greatest hits in office as he batted away calls for him to resign immediately rather than wait until September 5. He spoke at length about Brexit, support for Ukraine and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic amid furious heckling from the Opposition benches.

He tabled a motion of confidence last week in his outgoing government following a row over Labour’s plans for a ‘stunt’ vote. It comes after Labour bungled an attempt to force a Commons showdown on whether Johnson still commands a majority. Sir Keir Starmer had wanted to hold a vote on whether MPs still had faith in the government under Mr Johnson.

But Downing Street refused to allow such a vote - despite convention being that the government always grants parliamentary time for a confidence motion from the official opposition party - as they claimed it did not follow the standard format.

They accused Labour of ‘playing politics’ and wasting parliamentary time by specifically targeting Johnson with their proposed vote - when he has already announced his resignation. Labour hit back and claimed No10 was dodging their version of a confidence vote because they feared losing it.

However tonight, in a hint at what is to come, Johnson also told MPs he will have ‘more to say’ about the events surrounding his downfall ‘in due course’.

The debate came after a tumultuous few months which led to Tory MPs forcing him to accept he has to step down, amid accusations of lying and rule-breaking.