Brexit - as it happened: Eurosceptic issues leadership challenge to Theresa May's cabinet as no-confidence vote intrigue grows
Theresa May faces another tough day as she battles to cling onto her job after a flurry of ministerial resignations and a growing campaign to unseat her by Conservative MPs unhappy about her Brexit deal.
As No 10 gears up for a potential vote of no confidence, government whips were recalled to Westminster from their constituencies.
Ms May began the morning with a 30-minute phone-in on LBC, where she insisted she would carry on as prime minister and defended the Brexit deal that has infuriated many of her MPs. She was speaking minutes after former culture secretary John Whittingdale became the latest to announce he had submitted a letter of no-confidence in her.
David Davis, the former Brexit Secretary, described Theresa May’s proposal as “dreadful” and said the EU was deliberately delaying the negotiations during an interview on BBC Radio 4 this morning.
First call is from Daniel, a Tory councillor who says it is time for her to "respectfully" stand down in the national interest.
Ms May says she recognises their are concerns about the backstop but to focus on the future relationship.
She is also is asked if she still has the support of the DUP and if they will vote for her deal.
Ms May says the DUP has raised concerns but claims she has their support. The prime minister does however fall short of saying the DUP will back her deal.
"When the vote comes back every member of parliament will decide how they vote," Ms May says.
When asked if the UK was stockpiling medicine, Theresa May says she understands the concerns because she is a type one diabetic and the insulin she uses is made in the European Union.
When quizzed if Boris Johnson was right to stand by the infamous Brexit bus, Ms May says the former foreign secretary was highlighting that leaving the EU would allow for more money to be diverted to the NHS.
Theresa May appears to rule out giving MPs a free vote on her Brexit deal - a demand being made by Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary.
The prime minister says:
"There is cabinet responsibility. Government will put its position to the House of Commons."
A key Commons committee has dismissed the government's plan for giving MPs a "meaningful vote" on the Brexit deal, dealing a further blow to Theresa May's hopes of forcing her withdrawal agreement through Parliament
Tom Watson, Labour's deputy leader, has said a fresh referendum on Brexit is now "more likely".
He told The House magazine:
"If you get to the point, and it’s looking more likely, where Parliament cannot decide what the best option is, we think that’s the point where you go to the people in a general election. They voted to leave the European Union, they didn’t vote for food shortages or problems with medical supplies or not to be able to sell goods to the European markets. They voted to bring sovereignty back to the UK.
"If that plan isn’t going to work the way to do it is to put your option to the people in a general election. If we don’t get that, then obviously a people’s vote is still on the table and our position has not changed."
He added:
“We’ve been saying that is on the table for a year-and-a-half. At that time, it seemed very unlikely that there would be a people’s vote, that was the insurance option at the end of a series of unlikely events.
"It seems to me that it is more likely given the weakness of Theresa May’s position. She leads a government without a majority, it now looks like she leads a Cabinet without a majority as well. Given the weakness of her own government, I think it is more likely that we could get there."
Having lost senior cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Esther McVey, pressure on Ms May was heightened after leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted his letter calling for a vote of no-confidence on Thursday afternoon.
A number of other Tory backbenchers publicly followed suit. If the number of letters hits 48 (15 per cent of the parliamentary party) Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, will automatically trigger a confidence vote in Ms May.
There is growing speculation of further cabinet resignations, with Michael Gove considering whether he should step down after apparently refusing to take the Brexit secretary job.
Mr Gove is believed to have demanded that Ms May’s draft agreement is renegotiated and for the 25 November summit with the EU to be cancelled.
Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, is also thought to be still considering quitting and met with Ms May yesterday to discuss.
The Independent has launched its #FinalSay campaign to demand that voters are given a voice on the final Brexit deal.
