Plotters fail to light the fuse

Tory Eurosceptics yesterday admitted an attempt to unseat Theresa May had stalled, as bitter in-fighting broke out among Brexiteers.

Despite the confident predictions of the rebels that a vote of no confidence would be held as soon as today, the extra letters from Conservative MPs needed to bring about a ballot had failed to materialise.

The confidence vote now appears to be on hold until after Parliament votes next month on May’s Brexit deal, which will itself be seen as a referendum on her leadership.

The prime minister also faced down Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Paterson in Downing Street hours after the so-called ‘‘gang of five’’ senior Brexiteer Cabinet ministers, who had threatened to make life difficult for her unless she agreed to renegotiate her deal, disbanded before they had even met.

She was applauded by business leaders at the CBI’s annual conference and could go to Brussels as early as today to agree the direction of future trade talks with the EU before the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is signed off by EU leaders on Sunday.

One senior Brexiteer said: ‘‘Today was supposed to be the day we finally got the 48 letters needed to force a no-confidence vote but some people didn’t turn up to be counted.

‘‘There is a lot of frustration, especially with some of the big names who haven’t yet put letters in.’’

It was not all good news for May as the DUP, on whose 10 MPs she relies for her parliamentary majority, last night voted against the Government in a Budget motion, sending her a stark message that she must act on their concerns over Brexit. It threw into doubt the future of the’ confidence and supply deal with the DUP, which could hugely undermine her authority and prompt wavering Eurosceptic MPs to put in letters against May.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson held a meeting with Jacob ReesMogg and Simon Clarke, a fellow Brexiteer, increasing speculation that he was rallying support ahead of a potential leadership bid.

Johnny Mercer, the backbench Tory MP who has expressed disillusionment with May, was also present. The members of the European Research Group of Tory Eurosceptics had insisted last week that yesterday would be the day that the 48-letter threshold to force a no-confidence vote would be crossed.

Clarke, one of 26 MPs who publicly admitted to submitting letters, said early yesterday that

‘‘Today was supposed to be the day we finally got the 48 letters needed to force a no-confidence vote but some people didn’t turn up to be counted.’’

Senior Brexiteer

May was facing a crucial day, but his Brexiteer colleagues sat on their hands and Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, did not receive the required 48 letters.

Senior Leave-supporting MPs conceded that many colleagues were setting their sights on the parliamentary vote on the Brexit deal next month, in the belief that May would be more likely to lose a confidence vote if she had already suffered a defeat on Brexit.

But a senior Eurosceptic source said: ‘‘Many people are saying that the meaningful vote is the right time to put in letters.’’ Steve Baker, a leading Eurosceptic MP, added: ‘‘Anyone who thinks that the moment of danger has passed has succumbed to spin.

‘‘This is a process, not moment.’’ – Telegraph Group a