Boris Johnson survived a Conservative Party no-confidence vote. Still, the bruising he took from his fellow Tories and his falling fortunes among British voters do not inspire confidence that the United Kingdom's prime minister is out of political trouble.
The specific issue that triggered the snap intraparty plebiscite is what Brits refer to as "partygate" — Johnson's serial violations of his own government's COVID-lockdown rules to hold boozy parties at No. 10 Downing Street, the prime minister's residence.
The hypocrisy to the public and Parliament was glaring, especially as Johnson's government appeared to be behind the curve in responding to the pandemic. (Johnson himself contracted COVID and spent days in intensive care.) Brits' disappointment in their leader is reflected in falling poll numbers and in a telling anecdote during the recent royal celebration: loud booing could be heard as Johnson and his wife Carrie arrived at St. Paul's Cathedral for a thanksgiving service for the queen.
