If Boris Johnson seemed as if he was in real trouble earlier today (6 June), we now know his days in No 10 are very likely numbered. By losing the support of 148 Conservative MPs, the Prime Minister has fared worse in his vote of confidence, proportionally, than Margaret Thatcher in 1990 (147 rebels in present terms), Theresa May in 2018 (133) and John Major in 1995 (121).
Only Major survived to contest another election – May announced her resignation within six months of receiving her confidence vote results and Thatcher within 48 hours. Johnson fared worse than all of them today, yet no one expects him to resign imminently, or indeed at all.
Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month
Content from our partners
