Toasting vote victory would be premature

Boris Johnson is to remain UK prime minister after winning a no-confidence vote in parliament last night. He will no doubt see his being returned to Downing Street as a vindication of his leadership.

Given partygate, the irony that Johnson may even raise a selfcongratulatory glass or two to celebrate his victory is not lost.

But as victories go this was Pyrrhic at best. In office, Johnson has lost much more than he has won.

He rode a wave of popularity into Number 10, but the day-to-day has not been kind to the prime minister.

He has broken the bond of trust with the electorate

Brexit brought him to power, but it has been far from an easy transition.

Covid was a chance to show leadership, but instead Johnson participated in, oversaw and denied a party culture in government that disgusted and bewildered a public living within the spirit and the letter of the lockdown laws.

The Ukraine crisis has arguably been a strong suit for the prime minister, showing unity and steadfastness on the world stage.

But that has been in contrast to his response to the cost-of-living crisis, which has pushed tens of thousands of already struggling families in the UK into a spiral of misery and debt.

History – not least as Johnson swept to power following the collapse of Theresa May’s premiership – suggests this may be nothing more than a stay of execution.

Let’s be clear, Johnson has very little to be pleased about as he settles down in his plushly redecorated Downing Street flat.

He is a prime minister whose actions speak louder than the words he utters. He has broken the bond of trust with the electorate. And done so with alacrity.

He may have dodged yet another bullet, but his is a card with many black marks upon it.

Only time will tell whether his political peers – and the public – are willing to forgive and forget.

Or whether Johnson’s coat has been on a shoogly peg all along.