Boris Johnson Escapes Sack

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has escaped being sacked from office on Monday as he survived a no confidence vote by lawmakers in his own Conservative party for breaking COVID-19 rules over a series of parties held in Downing street during the country COVID-19 lockdowns.

Johnson survived a confidence vote of Conservative MPs by 211 to 148.

It is noted that the 211-148 result means Johnson cannot be challenged from within the Conservative ranks for one full year and the outcome also means that more than half of the House of Commons either opposes Johnson or has expressed no confidence in him.

Downing Street office said the prime minister welcomed the vote as “a chance to end months of speculation and allow the government to draw a line and move on”, according to Sky News.

Boris Johnson faced intense pressure from lawmakers—including senior members of his own party—and the public after reports of multiple parties at Downing Street that breached U.K. Covid restrictions.

Boris Johnson who was fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaking Covid-19 restrictions for attending a party held at government offices, initially denied the parties altogether, and later said rules were followed “at all times“.

He eventually apologized but denied he deliberately misled parliament.

No confidence vote was called after 54 Conservative MPs submitted letters to the 1922 Committee, the organization of back-bench Tories, demanding that Johnson’s leadership be put to the test in the aftermath of the “Partygate” scandal.

“Partygate” signifies the to 16 social gatherings or parties, the prime minister and members of his staff attended during the same period when Johnson and the British government imposed strict social distancing measures and limits on gatherings during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.