Boris Johnson has survived a leadership challenge, but questions remain about how long he will remain as leader after 148 of his own MPs voted against him. Welsh secretary Simon Hart was mocked for denying that it had been a " terrible night" for the Prime Minister in a radio interview.
In a letter to his MPs before the crucial vote on Monday, June 6, Mr Johnson vowed to "continue to listen and learn from colleagues" and adds that "some of the criticism has perhaps been fair, some less so". You can also see what he told MPs when he spoke to them at 4pm here, two hours before the secret vote opened.
After the result was made public, he said it was a "very good", "convincing" result and "an opportunity to put behind us all the stuff that the media goes on about". You can see all the details from the vote here. Ahead of the ballot we asked all of Wales' Conservatives MPs whether or not they would be backing Mr Johnson or voting against him but more have now made their positions public.
Who supported the Prime Minister?
Simon Hart - MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
The Welsh secretary tweeted his support for the Prime Minister, saying: "As a government we’ll be judged on whether we make the right calls on the big challenges – Ukraine, cost of living, and the vaccination programme being just three examples. Confidence votes and regime change risk handing the levers of power to those who will do the most damage to our country. There is a reason why Labour and the SNP are the loudest voices calling for the PM to go. Boris Johnson’s great strength is that he is unique – a voice for those that have so often gone unheard across the UK. In good times and bad supporting the team – and especially its leader – has never been more important and that’s what I’ll be doing tonight."
Alun Cairns - MP for Vale of Glamorgan
The former Welsh secretary also tweeted support. "I will be backing the PM tonight. He has always got the big calls right – furlough, giving us the lowest unemployment since 70s; vaccines, releasing us from Covid sooner than other nations; strongest leadership against Russian aggression; and coordinated support through energy crisis."
David TC Davies - MP for Monmouth
The Wales Office minister tweeted: "My father died in June 2020 during lockdown. At that time, as a Minister, I saw first-hand, including at COBR meetings, how determined Boris was to saving lives and getting our country through. His commitment was absolute and I have no hesitation in backing him today."
Simon Baynes - MP for Clwyd South
On Twitter Mr Baynes wrote: "Today I will be supporting Boris Johnson – he has got the big decisions right on vaccines, supporting people through the Covid crisis, delivering on Brexit which the majority of people supported in the referendum and 2019 election and leading international support for Ukraine."
Fay Jones - Brecon and Radnorshire MP
Her statement: "For the last few months, I have thought long and hard about the PM and his ability to lead. Some of the revelations from Downing Street were difficult to stomach and I have sobbed at the emails I’ve received from constituents who endured appalling sacrifices during the Covid pandemic. But the Prime Minister promised that things would change in Downing Street - and they have.
"Our response to the war in Ukraine has been outstanding and closer to home, the Government is standing by tens of millions of hard-working families during the cost of living challenge. Yesterday, I had to think long and hard about the impact of a leadership election on the country. I want Ministers focussing on the passport backlog, the stalemate at the DVLA and ways to reduce eye watering fuel bills - not their own careers. That’s why I support the Prime Minister and his ability to get things done. The parliamentary party has now had its say and it was a very clear result. It’s time we move on - once and for all."
Craig Williams - Montgomeryshire MP
Mr Williams, who has a junior unpaid role in the government as a parliamentary private secretary, told the BBC: "I thought long and hard yesterday about the decision to back the prime minister."
"I decided to and I spoke to my association chairman, members, supporters and constituents and they broke into three buckets.
"The people that would never ever vote Conservative and want Boris to go, the people will always vote Conservative and want Boris to stay, and the bucket I was worried about, which are people that are losing trust with us, they want the prime minister to do better.
"They, like me, think he can do better and that's the people I need to earn the trust of and I think I've given him that one last benefit of the doubt."
Sarah Atherton - Wrexham MP
In a statement on Facebook, she said: "I completely understand the feelings on both sides, but I will be supporting the Prime Minister this evening. The opposition is invested in this which is perpetuated by the media. But we do not have time for a lengthy leadership contest when my constituents can’t access their GP and there is a war on the fringes of Europe which is causing the cost-of-living crisis.
"Boris had a manifesto that won Wrexham for the first time, which he has delivered on, is delivering on, and will continue to deliver on for my constituents in Wrexham. I have spoken to my constituents about this and on the ground, Boris has overwhelming support from a silent majority and that is why I am supporting him."
David Jones - Clwyd West MP
"It is a fundamental rule of politics that divided parties will inevitably find it difficult to inspire the popular support necessary to win elections. Sadly, the vote in the 1922 Committee this week has highlighted divisions in the Conservative Party that will take some time to heal. I declined to support the motion of no confidence on Monday because, while I deplored the events of some 18 months ago that were outlined in the Sue Gray report, I felt that the Prime Minister had taken positive, effective steps to address the unacceptable juvenile culture that had developed at 10 Downing Street during the pandemic. The staff members responsible had been moved out and a new Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff had been appointed. Anyone who deals with No 10, as I regularly do, will vouch that it is now the wholly professional operation that is should be. The Prime Minister has, quite properly, apologised for the events of lockdown. He has acknowledged that public opinion has been affronted by what happened. I have spoken to him personally about the issue several times and have no doubt that his contrition is heartfelt and genuine. The episode has, however, reflected no credit on him.
"At the same time, it must be acknowledged that, on many important issues, the PM has made the right decisions. He oversaw the funding and development of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine and the very successful rollout of the vaccination programme – the first in the world. Now, he is leading the West’s response to the Russian aggression in Ukraine, ensuring the Ukrainians receive essential weaponry, and recruiting Sweden and Finland to the NATO alliance. Earlier this week, President Zelensky thanked him for his “complete understanding” of Ukraine’s needs.
"The motion of no confidence was defeated on Monday, but by only a narrow margin. The vote revealed a 60/40 split in the Parliamentary Party. For anyone who cares about the Conservative Party and the country, that is a worrying state of affairs. Through the vote, the Prime Minister has effectively now been told by his party that further improvements are necessary. He must listen to what he has been told. He should implement an immediate reshuffle, to ensure that the very best men and women fill his ministerial team. He should take further steps to address the cost of living crisis, by cutting income tax and reversing the recent increase in national insurance contributions and he should ensure that public services return to full operation after the too-lengthy disruption of the pandemic. All these things the Prime Minister can, and must, do. I believe that he has it in him to do them. The divisions in the Party simply must be healed. I will support the Prime Minister in his efforts to achieve that but my support – and that of my colleagues - is not unconditional; and the Prime Minister understands that only too well."
Who hasn't responded?
Stephen Crabb - Preseli Pembrokeshire MP
James Davies - Vale of Clwyd MP
Robin Millar - Aberconwy MP
Jamie Wallis - Bridgend MP
Who aren't we sure about?
Virginia Crosbie - Ynys Mon MP
In her statement, she said: "The Prime Minister won the confidence vote last night and now it’s time to get behind him and work to tackle the challenges this country faces both at home and abroad. Boris Johnson is a fervent supporter of new nuclear power and I see this as my priority – spades in the ground for a new nuclear power station at Wylfa and all that means for jobs and investment on this island. All that really interests me is what is best for my constituents. I said I would bring jobs, opportunities and investment. This government headed by this Prime Minister is committed to doing just that in places like Ynys Môn that have been long ignored by other political parties. It’s time to get on with the job."
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