PM FIGHTS TO KEEP SHOW ON THE ROAD

HINTS OF TAX CUTS AFTER HAGUE WARNS: IT’S LIKE HE’S ON THE M1 WITH TWO FLAT TYRES

- Nicholas Cecil and David Bond

BORIS JOHNSON fought to get on the front foot today after winning a confidence vote but suffering a damaging revolt by 148 of his MPs.

Shortly after 6am, No10 issued words from the Prime Minister ahead of Cabinet vowing to “deliver on what the people of this country care about most” as he sought to move on from the partygate scandal.

He dangled the prospect of future tax cuts, pledged action to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, the huge backlog in NHS appointments and treatments, on levelling-up Britain and tackling crime. Mr Johnson signalled a series of new policy announcements including on dealing with the housing shortage and the high cost of child care, problems which significantly affect London and the South-East.

Referring to his confidence vote victory last night, Mr Johnson told Cabinet: “We are able now to draw a line under the issues our opponents want to talk about and to get on and talk about what the people of this country want us to talk about.”

He also urged his ministers to find ways of cutting costs in Whitehall and driving reform. “We have got to spend money wisely,” he added. But as he attempted to rev up his Government, former Tory leader Lord Hague warned that Mr Johnson was in trouble after so many of his MPs voted against him, even though he won the confidence ballot with 211 votes.

The senior Conservative said the Prime Minister’s political situation was like “trying to drive along the M1 with two flat tyres”, predicting that “it won’t end well”.