Tory MP who voted to oust Boris Johnson says 'this is not over' after confidence vote

The Tory Party was mired in another bitter civil war today after Boris Johnson ’s narrow confidence vote victory.

The Prime Minister tried to quell the fierce revolt as he hosted a Cabinet meeting in No10, telling ministers: “We are able now to draw a line under the issues that our opponents want to talk about.”

But the party leader’s backbench opponents signalled a renewed rebellion to try and oust Mr Johnson from Downing Street.

Former minister Philip Dunne revealed he voted for “a new vision for the party and a new degree of competence at the heart of government”.

He added: “It’s not going to happen for now, but we’ll have to see what happens in the coming weeks and months. This is not over.”

Philip Dunne said the bid to oust Boris Johnson 'is not over' (Handout)

Tobias Ellwood said the confidence vote 'is far from a conclusive result' (Daily Mirror)

Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee and who has called for Mr Johnson to quit, believed the PM would be out before the autumn and branded the 211 to 148 confidence vote a “stay of execution” .

“I think we’re talking a matter of months, up to party conference,” he warned.

“This is far from a conclusive result - it’s not a defeat but it’s not a win.

“So for the moment I accept the democratic outcome and I encourage all colleagues to do the same.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses his Cabinet (REUTERS)

“But 41% is a significant chunk of MPs that now need to be included in shaping the party’s future.”

Veteran MP Sir Roger Gale predicted further infighting when the Commons Privileges Committee reports on whether Mr Johnson lied to MPs over Partygate.

He said: “I don’t believe that he should take the party into the next general election, and I think there are other elephant traps down the road - two by-elections coming up, the Privileges Committee report in the autumn.”

Yet Deputy PM Dominic Raab claimed: “I think we draw a line in the sand after this vote, it was clearly and decisively won.”

Dominic Raab at the Cabinet meeting at Downing Street (Mark Thomas/REX/Shutterstock)

Almost every Cabinet minister tweeted their support for Mr Johnson, though there were suggestions some may have still voted against in the secret ballot.

Efforts to paint the revolt as a Remainer plot flopped when Brexit-backing MP Dehenna Davison revealed she voted to topple Mr Johnson.

“This is not a decision I took lightly,” she said.

“Weighing it all up, I voted against the Prime Minister.”