Boris Johnson has survived a confidence vote in his leadership of the Tory party but his authority has been dealt a significant blow.

Tory MPs voted by 211 to 148 in support of the Prime Minister but the scale of the revolt against his leadership leaves him wounded.

When Theresa May faced a confidence vote in 2018 she secured the support of 63% of her MPs – but was still forced out within six months.

Mr Johnson saw 41% of his MPs vote against him, a worse result than Mrs May.

The Prime Minister made a last-ditch plea to Tory MPs to back him, promising future tax cuts and highlighting his own record of electoral success.

But with concern over the partygate scandal, economic policy, drifting opinion polls and Mr Johnson’s style of leadership, the Prime Minister faced a difficult task to persuade his doubters.

READ MORE: Updates as Boris Johnson faces vote of no confidence

Amongst Tory Essex MPs, Clacton's Giles Watling and Basildon and Billericay's John Baron revelead they would vote against Johnson. 

Me Baron said: “Sue Gray’s report laid bare the extent of the rule-breaking at the heart of Government.

“Sadly, the Prime Minister’s repeated assurances to Parliament that he was unaware of any rule-breaking are simply not credible.

"For me, the central issue is the integrity of Parliament – not whether Boris Johnson is an electoral asset or not.”

MP for Colchester, Will Quince, was one of many Essex MPs who supported the PM and said the Government should “get on with the job” of fighting the cost of living crisis and helping Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said a “divided” Conservative Party is “propping up” Boris Johnson after the Prime Minister survived the confidence vote.

“The choice is clearer than ever before: Divided Tories propping up Boris Johnson with no plan to tackle the issues you are facing,” he tweeted.

“Or a united Labour Party with a plan to fix the cost-of-living crisis and restore trust in politics. Labour will get Britain back on track.”