Dorset MPs react to Boris Johnson's confidence vote win

The prime minister won a vote of confidence with 211 Tory MPs voting in favour of their leader, but 148 MPs cast a no confidence vote.

Sir Robert Syms, MP for Poole, voted no in the confidence vote as Mr Johnson was “quite damaged” by recent events in Downing Street, making it difficult for him to win an election “because he’s got baggage.” 

He told the Daily Echo his win was a “silver lining” as it gives him the opportunity to “reset and stabilise things". 

He added: “His task now is to get back to normal and behave like a prime minister before summer recess – but he is still on probation. 

“It’s the best possible result for the party because it gives Boris another life to try and improve.” 

Sir Robert said he “likes” Boris and that we should cut him some slack, adding: “He hasn’t had an easy ride, with Brexit and the pandemic.  

Read more: Boris Johnson confidence vote results: PM survives challenge

“He almost died five or six weeks before party gate. 

“Boris needs organising, and he works better when he has good people around him. 

“A lot of issues are floating around: how do we deal with the NHS and how do we get young people able to buy their own homes, for example.

“But to tackle that we need to have a plan and keep Boris out of trouble, otherwise we won’t win the next election.

“Boris has proved himself very good at general elections, but not so much the day-to-day managing of a government.”

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood said we have to honour the democratic result (Image: Daily Echo)

Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East who also voted no in the confidence vote, said the result is a “democratic process we must follow and honour”, but warned the concerns and issues don’t go away.

He told the Echo: “It’s now up to the PM to recognise two out of five MPs do not express their support and they must be included in the challenge to reshape our party.  

“This was not some big remain plot. There were MPs from marginal seats, safe seats, young, old and one-nation Tories. This isn’t from one corner of the party. 

“There were genuine concerns across the party that now need to be addressed. 

“The prime minister needs to reshuffle his team, bring in fresh talent and reach out beyond our base and have policies that will tackle the cost of living crisis; not micro-policies that will appeal to the party faithful.” 

Read more: Boris Johnson no confidence vote: Where Dorset MPs stand

Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West, voted in confidence of Mr Johnson and said he was “pleased” Mr Johnson won and that the government can now focus on “things that the public care about”. 

He told the Echo: “I think he will not just survive until the next general election; he will win the next election.” 

The remaining MPs, Simon Hoare, Michael Tomlinson and Sir Christopher Chope were approached for a comment.