THE UK is "saddled with an utterly lame duck Prime Minister" after 148 Tory MPs voted for Boris Johnson to go, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The Prime Minister won his vote of no confidence, with more 211 Conservative MPs but the more than 140 MPs opposing him will come as a huge blow.
The First Minister said the result undermined the "democratic deficit" for Scotland in the UK.
That result is surely the worst of all worlds for the Tories. But much more importantly: at a time of huge challenge, it saddles the UK with an utterly lame duck PM. And for Scotland, it just underlines the democratic deficit - only 2 of 🏴 59 MPs have confidence in the PM. https://t.co/2EQE5LSYWL
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) June 6, 2022
Responding to the confidence vote, Sturgeon tweeted: “That result is surely the worst of all worlds for the Tories.
“But much more importantly: at a time of huge challenge, it saddles the UK with an utterly lame duck PM.
“And for Scotland, it just underlines the democratic deficit – only 2 of (Scotland’s) 59 MPs have confidence in the PM.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said a “divided” Conservative Party is “propping up” Boris Johnson after the Prime Minister survived the confidence vote.
“The choice is clearer than ever before: Divided Tories propping up Boris Johnson with no plan to tackle the issues you are facing,” he tweeted.
“Or a united Labour Party with a plan to fix the cost-of-living crisis and restore trust in politics. Labour will get Britain back on track.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Conservative MPs are now fully responsible for the Prime Minister’s behaviour. They have narrowly voted to keep a lawbreaker and liar in Number 10.
“Whilst Boris Johnson has clung on today – make no mistake, his reputation is in tatters and his authority is now totally shot.
RECAP: Boris Johnson WINS vote of no confidence and continues as Prime Minister
“It’s clear that the Prime Minister and the Conservative Party are laughing at the British public.
“Every Conservative MP who cares about integrity and decency must do the right thing, resign the whip and sit as an independent. For the sake of our country, this failing Prime Minister cannot be propped up any longer.
“Johnson is teetering on the brink. He is too cowardly to resign – the people of Tiverton and Honiton will speak for Britain in giving their verdict on Boris Johnson in two weeks time.”
Johnson rejected the assertion that he was now a lame duck prime minister who needed to call a snap election to secure a new mandate from the public, insisting he was focused on the public’s priorities.
The Prime Minister told reporters in Downing Street: “I think it’s an extremely good, positive, conclusive, decisive result which enables us to move on, to unite and to focus on delivery and that is exactly what we are going to do.”
The Scottish Tory leader came under fire too as the SNP’s leader in Westminster said Douglas Ross’ position is “completely untenable” after the Prime Minister won a vote of confidence.
Ian Blackford, after the result was announced, said: “Tory MPs should have drawn a line under Boris Johnson’s disastrous time as Prime Minister but instead they’ve bottled it – allowing this damaging circus to continue and leaving the Westminster government in crisis.
“The UK is now stuck in limbo with a lame duck Prime Minister who has lost the confidence of the public – and more than forty per cent of his own MPs – and is left limping around on borrowed time while the Tory party descends into bitter division.
“As for Douglas Ross, his position is completely untenable. If he had any principles or dignity he should quit as Scottish Tory leader. He has made himself look utterly ridiculous by flip-flopping over Boris Johnson’s future and will have no authority or credibility if he tries to cling on.”
