HOW OUR MPs VOTED LAST NIGHT
OR AT LEAST, HOW THEY SAID THEY WOULD VOTE AHEAD OF THERESA MAY’S WIN
CONSERVATIVE MPs in the Bristol area came out overwhelmingly in favour of Theresa May last night after an attempt by rebel backbenchers to oust her as Conservative leader and Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister won a confidence vote of the 317 Conservative MPs by a margin of 200 to 117 in a secret ballot at Westminster.
But she sowed the seeds for her eventual departure by telling Tory MPs that she would not lead the party into the next general election, expected in 2022
The vote was triggered by party grandee Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, early on Wednesday after he received letters of no confidence in the PM from at least 15% of the parliamentary party.
North East Somerset MP and prominent Brexiteer Jacob ReesMogg, the chairman of the European Research Group, said the result was “terrible” for Theresa May and she should resign.
Mr Rees-Mogg, inset, told the BBC: “It’s a terrible result for the Prime Minister, it really is.”
With the “payroll vote” of ministers, parliamentary aides and trade envoys all likely to have backed Mrs May, a majority of the remaining 160-170 backbenchers voted no confidence in her, he said.
“Of course I accept this result, but the Prime Minister must realise that under all constitutional norms, she ought to go to see the Queen urgently and resign.
“Constitutionally if a Prime Min- ister can’t get her business through the House of Commons – and on Monday the Prime Minister got up and said she was going to lose so heavily she wasn’t even going to call the vote – and then discovers that the overwhelming majority of her backbenchers have voted against her, she clearly doesn’t have the confidence of the House of Commons and she should make way for someone who does.”
Mrs May’s victory in the confidence vote means that another challenge cannot be mounted against her position as Tory leader for a year.
But she still faces the danger of a no-confidence motion in the House of Commons, which could bring her Government down if backed by more than half of all MPs.
And Labour MPs branded her a “lame duck” PM because of her decision to pre-announce her departure.
Apart from Rees-Mogg though, the remaining MPs in the Bristol area all voted in favour of Theresa May keeping her position. At least, this is how they said they would vote yesterday, ahead of what was a secret ballot:
Liam Fox, North Somerset MP
The international trade secretary tweeted his support for his boss early on Wednesday morning as members of the cabinet rallied around the Tory leader after the no confidence vote was announced.
Dr Fox said: “I will support the prime minister tonight. This is a totally inappropriate time to have a contest. The country expects us to provide stability not damaging division.”
His support will be a major boost to Mrs May and a vindication of her argument that her Brexit deal will allow the UK to conduct its own trade deals after Brexit. Some have argued that this could be Dr Fox’s last cabinet job, so he will be determined to finish what he has started under Mrs May’s leadership.
Chris Skidmore, Kingswood MP
A remainer-turned-leave fan, Mr Skidmore was made universities minister only a week ago. He has been a passionate defender of Mrs May’s withdrawal plans and has backed her to complete the job.
He said: “[There are] 107 days until we leave the EU. The PM has worked unbelievably hard to deliver a deal that reflects the nature of the referendum result, she deserves immense credit and our support.
“I will be backing her completely. Those contemplating otherwise, just think how bad this looks.”
Jack Lopresti, Filton and Bradley Stoke MP
The former Bristol City councillor confirmed he will support the prime minister in tonight’s crunch vote.
As an aide in the Brexit department, it means he remains loyal to the current regime. His stance puts him at odds with his wife, Andrea Jenkyns MP, who is one of Mrs May’s fiercest critics and wants her out.
John Penrose, Weston-superMare MP
Another to have been promoted in recent weeks , the resort MP was made Northern Ireland minister in the wake of the ministerial walkouts over the PM’s withdrawal agreement plans.
Another remainer who has avidly pushed the leave cause behind the scenes in Westminster since the referendum, Mr Penrose said choosing a new leader would be a “distraction” from delivering Brexit.
“Before everyone asks, I’m supporting the PM in the vote today,” Mr Penrose tweeted. “We’ve got to focus on getting the right Brexit deal for the country. Anything else is a distraction.”
Luke Hall, Thornbury and Yate MP
A loyalist and aide in the Department for Education, Mr Hall said he will be voting for Mrs May to continue as leader.
The former supermarket manager said: “I will be supporting the prime minister. She is focusing on delivering Brexit and has a plan to leave the EU on March 29.
“This is an unnecessary distraction and I look forward to Theresa May refreshing her mandate.”