Prime Minister facing vote of no confidence

Embattled Theresa May is facing a vote of no-confidence this evening according to reports.

More than 48 Conservative MPs have now submitted letters to the backbench 1922 Committee two days after the Prime minister delayed the Brexit vote in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister said in Downing Street this morning that she would contest that vote with “everything I have got”.

She added: “Delivering the Brexit people voted for, building a country that works for everyone. I have devoted myself unsparingly to these tasks since I became Prime Minister and I stand ready to finish the job.”

Theresa May said she has cancelled her plans to campaign against the vote of no confidence.

The 48 letters is the total needed to trigger a vote.

The move is likely trigger a leadership contest in the Conservative Party.

Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, said a ballot would be held between 6pm and 8pm this evening in the Commons.

He added in a statement: “The votes will be counted immediately afterwards and the result will be announced as soon as possible in the evening.”

The backbench challenge is being led by those unhappy at the Brexit deal she negotiated but some Tory MPS who voted remain are also unhappy at the handling of the Brexit negotiations.

Meanwhile Labour MPs have urged Jeremy Corbyn to call for a Commons vote of no confidence in the government although he has so far resisted.

If there is a vote of no confidence there would be a 14 day time limit to find a government which could command confidence of the Commons.

Otherwise, the Queen would have to dissolve Parliament.

Mrs May spent Tuesday meeting EU leaders and officials in The Hague, Berlin and Brussels in efforts to salvage her deal.