Brexit - as it happened: Eurosceptic issues leadership challenge to Theresa May's cabinet as no-confidence vote intrigue grows
Fresh cabinet appointments include Amber Rudd as DWP secretary
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May faces another tough day as she battles to cling onto her job after a flurry of ministerial resignations and a growing campaign to unseat her by Conservative MPs unhappy about her Brexit deal.
As No 10 gears up for a potential vote of no confidence, government whips were recalled to Westminster from their constituencies.
Ms May began the morning with a 30-minute phone-in on LBC, where she insisted she would carry on as prime minister and defended the Brexit deal that has infuriated many of her MPs. She was speaking minutes after former culture secretary John Whittingdale became the latest to announce he had submitted a letter of no-confidence in her.
Having lost senior cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Esther McVey, pressure on Ms May was heightened after leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted his letter calling for a vote of no-confidence on Thursday afternoon.
A number of other Tory backbenchers publicly followed suit. If the number of letters hits 48 (15 per cent of the parliamentary party) Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, will automatically trigger a confidence vote in Ms May.
There is growing speculation of further cabinet resignations, with Michael Gove considering whether he should step down after apparently refusing to take the Brexit secretary job.
Mr Gove is believed to have demanded that Ms May’s draft agreement is renegotiated and for the 25 November summit with the EU to be cancelled.
Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, is also thought to be still considering quitting and met with Ms May yesterday to discuss.
This is a big boost for Theresa May, if confirmed. Reports suggest Michael Gove is staying at DEFRA...
UPDATE: We believe at least 18 Tory MPs have publicly said they have sent in letters of no confidence in Theresa May.
That's a long way short of the 48 needed, but of course many won't have made their decision public.
NEW: Mark Francois, one of the ERG officers, becomes the latest MP to hand in a vote of no confidence letter.
One sub-plot to keep an eye on today is who will be appointed as Dominic Raab's successor as Brexit secretary.
The job was reportedly offered to Michael Gove but he has decided to stay on as environment secretary.
Some reports suggest the government may simply disband the Department for Exiting the European Union now that a Brexit deal has been largely agreed.
Ben Bradley has also submitted a letter of no confidence, taking the public total to 20.
Reports suggest the remaining Cabinet Brexiteers have decided to stay...
Michael Gove, Liam Fox, Chris Grayling, Penny Mordaunt and Andrea Leadsom have decided to stay in their jobs "to get this in a better place", a source told the Sunday Times.
"Resigning and joining a rebellion is not doing to help anything", they added.
Full story: Government whips ordered to return to Westminster as Theresa May faces prospect of no-confidence vote
NEW: Michael Gove has said he "absolutely" has faith in Theresa May and is "looking forward to continuing to work".
It is "absolutely vital we focus on getting right deal for the future", he adds.
Here's Michael Gove's full statement this morning:
“I’ve had a very good morning in a series of meetings with my colleagues here at Defra, just making sure that we have the right policies on the environment, on farming and on fisheries for the future.
“And I’m also looking forward to continuing to work with all my government colleagues, and all my colleagues in Parliament in order to make sure that we get the best future for Britain.
“I think it’s absolutely vital that we focus on getting the right deal in the future and making sure that in the areas that matter so much to the British people, we can get a good outcome.”
Speculation is swirling around Westminster as to whether the 48 letters threshold has already been passed.
Steve Baker, a senior figure in the ERG, is reported to have told the ERG his count suggests the number has been surpassed, with as many as 60 letters having possibly been sent in.
But one ERG source told The Independent they did not expect the threshold to be reached until Monday, after MPs have consulted with Tory members in their constituencies.
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