Test of strength A vote of no confidence would only be the first stage of an obstacle course that Theresa May has to navigate before the end of the year

Even if Theresa May were to survive a vote of confidence in the days ahead, this could just be the start of the obstacles to be faced by the Prime Minister before the end of the year. The Budget Last month, senior Eurosceptics warned that they could vote down the Budget if Theresa May pushed ahead with a soft Brexit. While the statement passed without controversy, the key votes are still due to take place in the next month. Sources in the DUP have told The Daily Telegraph that they are also weighing up their options, and any decision to vote against the Finance Act is effectively a vote of no

confidence in the entire Government. EU summit

While the PM doesn’t expect any changes to the Withdrawal Agreement, she is still locked in negotiations over the political declaration – the framework which will determine the future of EU-UK relations. It is in this document, currently comprising just seven vaguely worded pages, that Brexiteers fear further concessions will be made.

The vote If Mrs May’s deal is signed off in Brussels, she then has to get it through Parliament. The PM would usually count on Government MPS, ministerial assistants, and backbench loyalists to vote for her deal. But with roughly 60 Brexiteers, the DUP and a handful of Europhiles lining up to reject it, she will have to win over scores of Labour rebels if she is to reach the 320 votes needed to secure a majority.