Zac Goldsmith becomes 24th Tory MP to go public with no-confidence letter with Brexiteers still 10 votes short of triggering vote on Theresa May
ZAC Goldsmith has become the 24th Tory MP to go public with a no-confidence letter in embattled Theresa May - but Brexiteers are still ten short of triggering a vote.
The former London mayoral candidate has boosted the rebel bid to topple Ms May as party leader by submitting a letter to 1922 Committee Chairman Sir Graham Brady.
He added: "Had that been the choice, I personally would have voted to Remain.
"The withdrawal agreement we have been presented with is unacceptable to Leave and Remain voters alike.
"It has close to zero chance of making it through Parliament and with only five months remaining, we cannot afford to waste any more time on it."
Which MPs have written no confidence letters against Theresa May?
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Ben Bradley
- Steve Baker
- Nadine Dorries
- Andrew Bridgen
- Mark Francois
- Sheryll Murray
- Simon Clarke
- Andrea Jenkyns
- James Duddridge
- Anne Marie Morris
- Peter Bone
- Lee Rowley
- Philip Davies
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- Laurence Robertson
- John Whittingdale
- Maria Caulfield
- Adam Holloway
- Chris Green
- David Jones
- Marcus Fysh
- Zac Goldsmith
Mr Goldsmith resigned as MP for Richmond Park in 2016 after the Government gave Heathrow not Gatwick its backing for airport expansion.
But after Mrs May triggered a shock election on June 8, Goldsmith threw his hat into the ring and won his seat back for the Tories by just 45 votes.
The letter comes after a bruising week for the Prime Minister over the Brexit deal - including a frantic Cabinet reshuffle following a flurry of resignations.
Amber Rudd replaced Esther McVey as Work and Pensions Secretary while complete unknown Stephen Barclay was appointed as the new Brexit Secretary.
What happens next if there is a no confidence vote in Theresa May?
IF Tory backbench chairman Graham Brady announces that there's been 48 letters sent to him expressing no confidence in Theresa May as Prime Minister, she faces a battle to hold on to her job.
MPs would in the coming days face a crunch vote in whether or not Mrs May should stay in No10, and as party leader.
All 316 Tories would then need to cast their vote in a secret ballot in whether they have confidence in her or not.
If one comes, it could take place as early as Monday.
If she wins, she stays in power as Prime Minister, and rebels can't try and boot her out for another year.
But if she loses, then a Tory leadership campaign is automatically started.
She will stay as Prime Minister until a new leader is appointed.
But during that time MPs would nominate each other to replace her. After a few rounds of voting, the numbers will be whittled down to two.
Those two will go to the Tory members to fight for their votes, in a campaign that can last several weeks.
Whoever wins that vote will become the next Tory leader and Prime Minister.
Tory critics have been desperately scrabbling to get the crucial 48 letters needed to spark the ballot to out the PM but are still stuck at 38.
Two prominent ex-Ministers John Whittingdale and Mark Francois broke cover to declare they had submitted letters - with backbenchers Chris Green and Adam Holloway joining them.
So far, 24 Tory MPs have publicly declared they have put in letters but it is understood 15 others had done so more discreetly.
Eurosceptic MP Bill Cash is rumoured to have submitted a letter - meaning rebels would be within ten letters of a vote.
The Sun yesterday revealed that Brexiteers are in a secret plot to try and force Mrs May to change her mind over her Brexit deal.
Micheal Gove will lead Cabinet ministers Andrea Leadsom, Liam Fox, Penny Mordaunt and Chris Grayling to try and make the PM seal more promises on a future trade deal.
The pivotal Environment Secretary was seen to have held Mrs May's political fate in his hands as he agonised for 36 hours over quitting - but decided to stay to try and tweak the deal.
The Pizza Plotters will hold talks this weekend and early next week to try and pin down a Canada-style trade deal from the EU.