UK PM Johnson survives confidence vote
London, Jun 7 (PTI) Embattled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has narrowly survived a vote of confidence by his fellow Conservative Party lawmakers against his leadership, a ballot that has left his authority weakened and exposed rifts within his party.
Some 211 MPs voted for the prime minister, compared to 148 votes against - a majority of 63.
The vote on Monday night rounded off a frenzied day of political high drama and speculation as Johnson, 57, made personal pleas to his party backbenchers to keep their faith in him as Prime Minister, despite the bruising partygate scandal of COVID law-breaking parties at Downing Street and across government offices.
Johnson insisted that the result of the vote was decisively in his favour - a 58.8 per cent for versus 41.2 per cent against.
That figure led to his critics branding it as a damaging outcome for his long-term future as the party leader, while his supporters point out he has the backing of a majority of his party.
"I think this is a very good result for politics and for the country," said Johnson, in reaction to the ballot.
"Just in this sense I think it's a convincing result, a decisive result and what it means is that as a government we can move on and focus on the stuff that I think really matters to people. I've got a far bigger mandate from my own parliamentary colleagues for instance than I had in 2019, he declared.
The vote is held as a secret ballot, with 180 being the cut off for Johnson to win the challenge given the halfway mark of the Tory parliamentary party membership of 359 if abstentions are not taken into account.
His allies had been keen to stress that a victory in the contest, even by just one vote, would put a rest to an issue that has overshadowed the government's focus on other pressing political concerns.
"Tonight is a chance to end months of speculation and allow the government to draw a line and move on, delivering on the people's priorities," Downing Street said in a statement.
"The PM welcomes the opportunity to make his case to MPs and will remind them that when they're united and focused on the issues that matter to voters there is no more formidable political force," it said.
The ballot came as Sir Graham Brady, chair of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbench MPs, declared that he had received the requisite 54 letters of no-confidence to trigger the vote.
Under the current Conservative Party rules, Johnson is now safe from a backbench challenge for at least 12 months.
But the political consensus is that he is by no means home safe, with two important by-elections looming on June 23 and a big defeat in those could be taken as a public referendum against his leadership and keep the discontent on the backbenches alive.
In many ways, the clock is still ticking on Johnson's leadership as his hold on the party has been visibly shaken.
In the case of Johnson's predecessor at Downing Street, Theresa May, a victory in a no-confidence vote back in 2018 did not prevent her forced exit a few months later to make way for him.
While backbench anger has grown since Sue Gray published her official report into lockdown parties within government offices last month, the Cabinet had largely rallied to Johnson's side including Indian-origin Chancellor and the potential frontrunner for the top job Rishi Sunak.
The PM has won the confidence vote and now it's time to move forward. Tomorrow we get back to work, growing the economy and delivering better public services," Sunak tweeted on Monday night.
Ahead of the vote, Johnson wrote to his backbenchers to drum up their support and also addressed them privately a few hours before the ballot took place.
The frontrunner in the backbench rebellion was former UK Foreign and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who had called on the party to vote for change in the secret ballot.
But for now, Johnson has been successful in holding on to his position as party leader and UK Prime Minister.
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Change in name of state to Keralam, a joyful moment for Malayali brothers: PM Modi
Kochi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the change of name of the state from Kerala to Keralam by the Centre was a joyful moment for Malayali brothers.
The PM was speaking at the golden jubilee celebration of the Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha, an organisation that works for the welfare of the fishing community in the state.
In his inaugural address, Modi appreciated the role of the fishing community during the 2018 floods in Kerala, lauding their courage, service, and dedication at that time.
He also pointed out that the Dheevara Sabha has been working for fishermen's rights for 50 years.
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Modi said the Centre too has been working for the welfare of the fishing community and has carried out various initiatives to empower them.
He also said that the Union government has taken various measures, including installing over 4,500 satellite-based transponders in fishing boats, to ensure the safety of fishermen at sea.
Modi arrived at the Kochi international airport around 11.30 am and from there travelled by helicopter to the naval base here.
From there, he travelled by road to the Marine Drive for his first event of the day -- the golden jubilee celebrations of the Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha.
The PM arrived in poll-bound Kerala to take part in a series of programmes here, including the inauguration of the BJP-led NDA's election convention.
