Brexit: Conservative rebels renew push to oust May as she tries to save deal from collapse

Unconfirmed reports suggest there are now a sufficient number of letters calling on her to resign to trigger a no-confidence vote

Theresa May’s embattled leadership is under fresh pressure after Tory rebels claimed enough letters calling for her resignation have been collected to trigger a no-confidence vote.

The attempt to force Ms May from power has flared up again as anger grows over her refusal to allow parliament a vote on her Brexit plans, amid fears it would result in a humiliating defeat.

But while unnamed rebels indicated they believed sufficient letters had been submitted to force a no-confidence vote in the Conservative leader, The Independent understands official confirmation was unlikely to come on Tuesday evening.

Leadership rivals continued to manoeuvre amid the intense speculation, with home secretary Sajid Javid giving an interview focusing on his background, while Boris Johnson was seen speaking with MPs in the Commons tea rooms.

Opposition parties raised the stakes further on Tuesday by moving to table a motion of no confidence in the whole Conservative government, as it became clear the country would likely face Brexit uncertainty into the new year.

In a desperate attempt to save the Brexit deal, Ms May dashed around European capitals to secure any kind of concession that could give her plans a chance of winning parliament’s approval.

The atmosphere in Westminster was febrile with exasperation expressed in public and private – in one bizarre moment a man dressed as Father Christmas entered a Commons tea room and told MPs, “you’ve all been very naughty”.

There were ill-tempered exchanges in the Commons chamber as ministers defended delaying the vote, while other Conservatives stoked speculation about a move to topple the prime minister.

Statista (Statista)

Ex-leader Iain Duncan-Smith said: “I do detect that in the last 24 hours people have decided that this isn’t going to work out at all.

“I have heard from a number of colleagues, I can’t name them now, they were people that wouldn’t have put letters in, are now openly saying ‘do you know what, my letter is going in’.

“I don’t know what that means for numbers. All I can say is, I sense a mood shift here. The prime minister has to resolve that very swiftly with some very bold words and very bold action.”

Under Conservative rules, 48 letters from MPs must be sent to the chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, calling for the leader’s resignation to trigger a vote of no confidence in Ms May’s leadership of the party.

Owen Paterson became the latest Conservative MP to submit a letter of no-confidence in the prime minister, fuelling speculation about an imminent leadership challenge.

In his letter, published in The Daily Telegraph, the former cabinet minister said Ms May’s conduct of the Brexit negotiations “eroded trust in the government, to the point where I and many others can no longer take the prime minister at her word”.

Several anonymous Conservative sources said on Tuesday evening that the 48 letters had been reached. However, similar reports last month did not result in a no-confidence vote being launched.

Certainty that sufficient letters have been submitted will only come when Sir Graham publicly announces it, and he is duty bound to give the prime minister 48 hours’ notice.

There was a suggestion that four more letters had been submitted in recent days, with ex-minister Crispin Blunt revealing he had put one in some weeks ago and encouraging others to do so.

To any colleagues thinking of signing their letter to Mr Brady – I beg you not to. The country would never forgive us

George Freeman MP

He said: “I think it is important for my colleagues to understand that they can completely trust Sir Graham Brady.

“He is not going to tell anybody that they have written a letter. Anyone in the government can write a letter, any junior ministers or any backbench MPs.

“They are all entitled if they have got a view that we now have to resolve the issue of the direction of the party.”

But another former minister, George Freeman, beseeched Tories not turn in on the party, saying: “To any colleagues thinking of signing their letter to Mr Brady – I beg you not to.

“The country would never forgive us.”

Speculation that a challenge could be imminent was fuelled after chief whip Julian Smith and Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis were seen leaving No 10 following late-night consultations on Tuesday.

Over the weekend Dominic Raab, Esther McVey and Mr Johnson signalled they would throw their hats in the ring if the Tory crown came up for grabs.

Mr Javid, a favourite for the job, was the subject of an interview published in The Spectator, in which he set out his personal philosophy.

Labour was adamant that it would not yet submit a broader motion of no confidence in the government as a whole, something separate to the internal Tory no-confidence vote in Ms May’s party leadership.

Party strategists have said they only want to push ahead with the motion at a moment when it is “most likely to be successful”.

But the SNP, Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru and Green parties all said they may push for a motion to be tabled even if Jeremy Corbyn will not do it.

Ms May started her day with a meeting with Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte before heading to Berlin to meet Angela Merkel. She was then going to see the European Council and Commission presidents Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, before flying back to Ireland in the morning to see Leo Varadkar.

Asked whether she had been told that the 48 letters to trigger a no-confidence motion in her had been received, Theresa May said: “No, I have been here in Europe dealing with the issue I have promised parliament I would be dealing with.”

She added that there had been a “shared determination” in her meetings to address the issues of concern to the UK.

After his meeting with the prime minister, Mr Tusk tweeted: “Long and frank discussion with PM Theresa May ahead of Brexit summit.

“Clear that EU27 wants to help. The question is how.”