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Boris Johnson is facing the Commons for the first time since well over a third of his own MPs tried to oust him.

The prime minister survived a confidence vote on Monday by 211-148, a result which keeps him in Downing Street but leaves him weakened.

He goes into prime minister’s questions knowing that many of those on the benches behind him tried to force him out of Downing Street less than 48 hours ago.

Mr Johnson and his allies have tried to frame the victory as ‘decisive’ and enough to ‘draw a line under’ widespread discontent at his leadership.

He was enthusiastically cheered by a section of his own MPs as he entered the Commons chamber.

But Mr Johnson remains in political peril, with the party on course to lose two by-elections later this month and an investigation over whether he misled parliament ongoing.

Labour MP Angela Eagle said the vote showed ‘just how loathed his prime minister is and that’s only in his own party’ and asked why the country should trust him.

He responded by saying: ‘In a long political career so far I have of course picked up political opponents all over and that is because this government has done some very big and very remarkable things they did not necessarily approve of.

‘Absolutely nothing and no one, least of all her, will stop us from getting on and delivering for the British people.’

Sir Keir Starmer opened his questioning by focusing on the government’s NHS record and changes to waiting times rules, saying: ‘As always with this prime minister when he’s falling short, he just changes the rules and lowers the bar.’

The scale of the rebellion against him on Monday also raises the prospect of Tory MPs torpedoing government legislation.

Unlike Theresa May, whose detractors were largely united by their preference for a hard Brexit, the PM is facing open rebellion from across the Conservative Party.

High profile MPs actively trying to force his resignation range from pro-single market defence committee chair Tobias Elwood to anti-EU veteran Steve Baker, via senior figures like ex-foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt and Scottish Tory chief Douglas Ross.

Downing Street is lining up a policy blitz to shift the agenda but it’s unclear what Mr Johnson could offer to appease the broad opposition he is facing. 

While the Sue Gray report proved to be a trigger for the confidence vote, there is also unrest at the government’s high tax and spend approach.

Health secretary Sajid Javid said he would ‘like to see us do more on tax cuts’, a hint the cabinet could be poised to lower the 70-year high tax burden on families.

Mr Johnson may also be on the verge of reshuffling his cabinet, though Number 10 has denied claims in The Telegraph he discussed ministerial sackings on Monday evening. 

With Mr Sunak’s reputation damaged by revelations about his tax affairs and the cost of living crisis, some are urging him to replace the chancellor with Mr Hunt.

Widely seen as a potential challenger, some close to the PM reportedly think promoting him would unify the party and kill off the risk of a leadership challenge, although it’s unclear he would accept the offer of a job.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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