Sherwood and Newark MPs supports Prime Minister as he survives vote of no confidence

The Prime Minister received a clear win from the vote of confidence in his leadership last night, says Sherwood MP Mark Spencer.

Mr Spencer, the leader of the House of Commons, said now Boris Johnson had won the vote it was time to get on with the job.

"A clear win for the PM tonight," he Tweeted.

"Now time to get on with the job, tackle the fight against global inflation, level up and invest in our communities, and work to protect the security of Europe."

Newark MP Robert Jenrick Tweeted last night: "I supported Boris Johnson in 2019 and will vote for him to continue as PM tonight.

"The full attention of the party needs to be on growing the economy, delivering on our promise to level up and playing the leading role in Europe’s defence.

"That’s how we win the next election."

David Watts, Parliamentary spokesman for the Liberal Democrats for the Newark constituency, said: "On Monday Conservative MPs including Robert Jenrick had the opportunity to vote to move on from Boris Johnson's failed premiership and allow the country to focus on the real challenges we face. They failed to take it.

"A majority of Conservative MPs have looked at the Prime Minister's record of lying and law breaking and have concluded that they are comfortable with it. A party that once claimed to stand for law, order and decency has lost its moral compass.

"Prior to the vote, when asked about the conduct described in the Sue Gray report, Johnson said that he 'would do it again'. In saying this he shows just how hollow his apology to the nation really was.

"I believe that we deserve so much better than this. If Conservative MPs will not sack Boris Johnson then we, the public, must take it upon ourselves to do so at the next general election.

"Here in Newark the Liberal Democrats offer an honest and positive alternative. Across the constituency life-long Conservatives have already told us that they will be switching to the Liberal Democrats next time.

"Robert Jenrick should be on notice. If his party will not find it within themselves to do the right thing then he risks losing his seat in Parliament next time."

Mr Johnson survived the vote of no confidence after Conservative MPs backed him to stay as leader in a secret ballot.

A vote was triggered when party chiefs confirmed more than 54 MPs had written to formally request that a ballot take place.

Under party rules, 180 MPs would have needed to back the vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister for there to be a leadership contest.

However, that threshold was not reached. 211 MPs voted for Boris Johnson, 148 voted that they had no confidence in him.

His victory means that he cannot face another vote of no confidence for a year.

Mr Johnson addressed his party's MPs in private this afternoon, setting out his case to stay in the job.

The PM has faced considerable criticism over the 'partygate' saga, with complaints that he misled Parliament about social gatherings that took place in Downing Street in spite of a covid-19 lockdown on such events.