May tries to quell Tory revolt by hinting she WON'T be leader by next election

Theresa May tried to quell the Tory revolt today by delivering a broad hint that she won't be in charge at the next general election.

The Prime Minister made clear the no confidence vote tonight is 'not about who leads the party into the next election'. 

The signal came after she vowed to fight with 'everything I've got' to beat the coup bid dramatically triggered by Eurosceptics. 

The contest is being held after hardliners secured the 48 letters from Conservative MPs needed to force a ballot that could bring her time as leader to a shambolic end.

At a rowdy PMQs this afternoon, watched by husband Philip from the gallery, Mrs May warned Brexit will need to be delayed beyond March if she loses and Jeremy Corbyn might end up in power. 

She appealed for more time to secure further concessions on the controversial exit package she has thrashed out with the EU.

More than 110 MPs have publicly declared that they will back her, putting her apparently on course to survive tonight - although as it is a secret ballot there is no guarantee they are telling the truth. 

And in a major concession designed to soothe tensions further, the PM's spokesman said: ‘She does not believe that this vote today is about who leads the party into the next election.

‘It is about if it is sensible to change leadership during the Brexit negotiation.’

He added: ‘She will serve as long as the party wants her.’

Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the powerful Tory 1922 committee, emerged this morning to announce the threshold of 48 letters had been 'exceeded' and Mrs May was eager to resolve the issue 'rapidly'.

Mrs May will deliver a make-or-break speech to MPs behind closed doors at 5pm before the secret ballot opens an hour later. The crucial result will be declared as soon as the 315 votes have been counted. 

Cabinet ministers rallied to try and shore up Mrs May, with Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Michael Gove, Amber Rudd, Penny Mordaunt and Brandon Lewis among those making clear they will be supporting her.

But despite their entreaties the Tories quickly descended into outright civil war, with David Davis hinting that he might vote against the PM, while her allies accused mutineers of being 'divisive and disloyal'. 

Mrs May - who has cancelled a planned visit to Ireland and a Cabinet meeting this afternoon - can stay on if she wins the confidence ballot by just one vote, and would theoretically be immune from challenge for another 12 months. 

In reality anything short of a handsome victory will make it almost impossible for her to cling on, with rebels saying she must go if she is opposed by more than 80 MPs. 

Allies believe she would have romped home if a contest had been staged last month - but her position has weakened significantly since then. 





MailOnline