That Boris Johnson survived Monday’s snap no-confidence vote within his party is a testament to the British Prime Minister’s charisma and cunning. That he faced the vote at all is a sign that he and his Tory Party remain in grave political danger, and for reasons conservatives in other parts of the world can learn from.
The intraparty vote was triggered when at least 54 Conservative members of Parliament—15% of Mr. Johnson’s caucus—expressed dissatisfaction with Mr. Johnson’s leadership. It’s a remarkable development only two-and-a-half years after he won a historic parliamentary majority of 80 seats, including districts that had never voted Tory. Mr. Johnson prevailed Monday 211-148, but the fact that 41% of his own party no longer have confidence in him will prove terminal unless he executes a turnaround.
