Boris Johnson news: More than half of Britons ‘think Tories made wrong decision keeping PM’

One in four 2019 Conservative voters says he should have stepped down

Boris Johnson isn't a good role model for children, says social mobility tsar

More than half of Britons think the Conservative party made the wrong decision in backing Boris Johnson’s premiership in the confidence vote earlier this week, a poll has found.

Mr Johnson described his victory as “decisive”, despite winning the ballot by 211 votes to 148.

But critics say the prime minister has found himself in the eye of a revolt against his positon, the scale of which far surpassed the expectations of his allies - failing to put to bed questions over his leadership.

On Friday, an Ipsos poll found that 51 per cent of Britons think MPs slipped up in retaining the prime minister, a number which includes one in four 2019 Conservative voters.

And, overall, 36 per cent said they made the right decision.

Earlier, the government’s top social mobility chief dubbed Mr Johnson “not a good role model” for children.

Katherine Birbalsingh, chair of the Social Mobility Commission, suggested that, even though she liked the prime minister, his personal life made her “raise an eyebrow”, and questioned whether he looked professional enough.

See below for how our coverage developed:

Key points

[10 June 2022 16:45 · Jane Dalton]

Starmer defends his questioning at PMQs

Sir Keir Starmer has defended his decision to highlight issues in the NHS rather than interrogate Boris Johnson about the confidence motion in his leadership during Prime Minister’s Questions two days after the vote.

The Labour leader said: “I think many people across the United Kingdom are very, very worried about the state of our health service.”

Critics slated him on Wednesday for not capitalising on the PM’s weakened position within his own party, accusing him of missing an open goal.

“If you’re waiting for cancer care, if you want to see a GP, or you’re worried about calling an ambulance, you’d be very pleased to hear the Leader of the Opposition challenging the Government on those issues which I know are of very deep concern to many many people.

“We have a weak Prime Minister, a divided Prime Minister, and the impact is on things like cancer care, is on waiting for a GP, waiting on an ambulance - and I think what people want to see at Prime Minister’s Questions is a Leader of the Opposition focusing on the issues that matter most to them.”

[10 June 2022 17:20 · Jane Dalton]

New blow for PM as home-ownership plans branded unworkable and a ‘gimmick’

Experts have dismissed Boris Johnson’s plans to boost home ownership as doomed to fail and likely to fuel the housing crisis, in a blow to his hopes of rescuing his troubled premiership. Rob Merrick reports:

[10 June 2022 17:49 · Jane Dalton]

Rees-Mogg refuses to debate why he ‘blocked’ bill that would have prevented elephant torture

Jacob Rees-Mogg and Commons leader Mark Spencer have refused to take part in a public debate on why they “blocked” a bill that would have spared elephants from torture in Asia.

The pair also declined to go on a fact-finding mission to see how the animals are brutally stabbed, whipped, chained, tied, beaten and starved into submission.

My exclusive report:

[10 June 2022 18:20 · Jane Dalton]

Ex-polling chief retracts claim that survey was suppressed

A former manager at YouGov has retracted a claim that the polling company suppressed research suggesting Jeremy Corbyn won a general election debate because it was “too positive about Labour”.

Chris Curtis said he was “happy to clarify the position and apologise to YouGov for any confusion caused” after accepting that the results were pulled because of concerns over the methods used.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, who co-founded the company, had been forced to deny he had wielded influence over the firm on Wednesday amid renewed claims of Tory pressure.

YouGov had insisted former political research manager Mr Curtis was “incorrect” to claim they dropped the poll because it favoured the then-Labour leader in 2017.

But now Mr Curtis, who is now head of political polling at rival firm Opinium, has tweeted: “I now accept YouGov’s position that in fact the results were pulled because of concerns other members of the team had about the methodology”.

[10 June 2022 19:59 · Jane Dalton]

PM accused of ‘hiding away’ on by-election campaign visit

Boris Johnson has been accused of “hiding away from people” during a brief visit to Tiverton and Honiton, as the Conservatives fight to hold on to the seat at the upcoming by-election.

The Liberal Democrats criticised the prime minister’s low-key visit to the Devon constituency after he was spotted meeting party candidate Helen Hurford and a small group of farmers for tea. Ashley Cowburn and Adam Forrest report:

[10 June 2022 20:14 · Jane Dalton]

Judge gives go-ahead to Rwanda deportation

The Home Office’s first flight carrying asylum-seekers to Rwanda has been given the go-ahead by the High Court in London after campaigners lost a bid to halt it.

A judge refused to grant an injunction to prevent the first trip in the controversial scheme, scheduled to leave on Tuesday with 31 asylum-seekers on board, writes Thomas Kingsley:

[10 June 2022 20:17 · Jane Dalton]

We will not be deterred, vows home secretary

Home secretary Priti Patel welcomed the ruling that Tuesday’s Rwanda deportation may go ahead, saying the Government would continue to deliver on “progressing our world-leading Migration Partnership”.

She said: “People will continue to try and prevent their relocation through legal challenges and last-minute claims, but we will not be deterred in breaking the deadly people smuggling trade and ultimately saving lives.

“Rwanda is a safe country, and has previously been recognised for providing a safe haven for refugees - we will continue preparations for the first flight to Rwanda, alongside the range of other measures intended to reduce small boat crossings.”

[10 June 2022 20:19 · Jane Dalton]

We will break traffickers’ business model, says Johnson

After the High Court’s Rwanda ruling, Boris Johnson tweeted: “Welcome news from the High Court today. We cannot allow people traffickers to put lives at risk and our world leading partnership will help break the business model of these ruthless criminals.’’