Confidence!

 So Boris Johnson wins the vote: 211 to 148. 

There’s a professor who predicted the result exactly. Professor Jon Tonge, who teaches British Politics at the University of Liverpool, tweeted 58 minutes before the result was announced:   

“I’ll go for confidence in Johnson 59% (211 votes) to 41% no confidence (147) and delete this tweet at 9.01 when it’s way out.”

So he hedged his bets, getting ready to delete the tweet if he was proved wrong as he probably didn’t want to look like a fool. It’s a pity he didn’t put an actual bet on it though. Mind you, I expect his students think he’s really cool and clever. It will have done his standing with the students no harm at all. 

I wonder if he can predict what will happen next. 

Theresa May survived, albeit briefly, 37% of the Tory Party voting against her, winning the vote by 200 to 117. But she departed in tears a few months later. Some pundits are saying that was partly because there was already a big push to replace her with Boris Johnson. There doesn’t seem to be a consensus of opinion, or even a plot, about who might realistically  replace Mr Teflon. Some suggest, however, that Jeremy Hunt could be a front runner.,

While some people, Tory voters and Tory MPs, were still expressing their disgust and calling for Mr Johnson to resign, others were enthusiastic about his victory. The foreign secretary, Liz Truss, tweeted that she was “pleased that colleagues have backed the prime minister. I support him 100%. Now’s the time to get on with the job.” And the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, tweeted: “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.”

The housing secretary, Michael Gove, was a little more circumspect, simply saying that Mr Johnson had “secured the support of Conservative MPs”. Perhaps Mr Gove himself has ambitions. 

Whatever happens, we seem to be stuck with the Tories for a bit longer, even though some say this vote may have strengthen the cause of Labour and the Liberal Democrats. We shall see!

But all is not doom and gloom Harry and Meghan, Mr and Mrs Sussex, have given the media a photo of their little Lilibet. So we can now share their joy! That will no doubt be some comfort for those people who are having difficulty getting home from their holidays. And to those who were hoping to see the back of Boris Johnson. 

I am heartily glad not to be trying to fly anywhere at the moment.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!