SOUTH Basildon MP Stephen Metcalfe has been reflecting on the outcome of yesterday's (Monday, 6 June) confidence vote by Conservative MPs in their leader Boris Johnson.

The prime minister won the confidence vote by 211 to 148 on Monday night.

Mr Metcalfe told Nub News: "Following the publication of the Sue Gray report and the vote of no confidence, as you can imagine I have received a large number of emails covering a wide range of views both in support of and opposition to the Prime Minister and I have reflected carefully on those views.

"There is no doubt the Sue Gray report makes very grim reading and shows that many civil servants in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office had complete disregard for the rules.

"It also led to the Prime Minister receiving a fine for a small gathering before a cabinet meeting at which he celebrated his birthday, which was reported in the papers at the time.

"As I have said on numerous previous occasions, I and my family made sacrifices during the national lockdowns and so I understand very well the sacrifices others made. I have also said many times, that I cannot defend the indefensible and I will not try.

"This is not about defending the Prime Minister or his actions, but about what I believe is in the best interests of the country as we recover from the pandemic, addressing the cost-of-living crisis and how we support Ukraine in the fight against Russian invasion and oppression.

"There is no doubt, when you look at the figure of yesterday's vote that many of the Parliamentary Party are deeply unhappy with the current situation and despite the challenges we face could not express their full support for the Prime Minister. However, as expected, the Prime Minister won the confidence vote.

"As you will understand, a vote of confidence is a binary choice, either yes or no and there is no way of nuancing it to reflect my conflicted feelings on the matter.

"I am, as ever, grateful to local residents for letting me know how you feel on this important matter. Now the vote has taken place and another confidence motion cannot be held for another year, I strongly believe that we must all move on for the good of the country and focus on the important challenges facing us."