Boris Johnson is still the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

• Boris Johnson survived the biggest challenge to his leadership since becoming PM.
• That victory does, however, come with some major caveats.
• 41% of his own MPs do not want him in power, worse than the result of a confidence vote in Theresa May’s government in 2018.

Boris Johnson has reason to be joyful at the end of the week. He survived the largest threat to his leadership since becoming Prime Minister on Monday; when his Conservative MPs voted 211 to 148 to keep him as party leader in a confidence vote. However, there are a few important limitations to that win.

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Johnson’s government is reported to have between 170-180 MPs on the payroll at the moment. Because the vote was confidential, Johnson was only able to collect a handful of backbench votes in the best-case scenario. In the worst-case scenario, those on the payroll would vote against him the moment they were given anonymity.

While Johnson and his friends have stated that the victory was convincing and conclusive; the reality is that 41% of Johnson’s own MPs do not want him in power. That number is higher than the vote of no confidence in Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May; in 2018 and is expected to climb in the coming months.

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