UK leader Boris Johnson survives no-confidence vote

The British prime minister weathered the party vote Monday with the support of 211 out of 359 lawmakers in his Conservative Party. The ballot followed a scandal over parties that Johnson and his staff held during the pandemic in violation of Britain’s COVID-19 restrictions. Johnson welcomed his win and called for unity within his party.

Is the prime minister in the clear? Some analysts have said his future remains uncertain. His winning margin was less than his predecessor Theresa May, who faced a similar vote in December 2018. She was forced to resign six months later. Johnson’s government is also under pressure to ease the impact of rising energy and food costs fueled by the Ukraine war.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report in The Sift on the prime minister’s lockdown gatherings.