Tory rebels force leadership vote
Twenty-five Tory MPs have reportedly now written to the chair of the party’s 1922 committee calling for a confidence vote in embattled leader Iain Duncan Smith.
Earlier on Tuesday just two MPs had announced that they had penned letters expressing concern about the Conservative leader’s abilities.
Mr Duncan Smith challenged MPs on Monday to ‘put up or shut up’ after weeks of whispering and rumours of a leadership challenge.
He set an ultimatum of Wednesday night for MPs to launch a leadership bid or ‘call a halt’ to their plotting.
MPs calling for Mr Duncan Smith to go include ex-Treasury minister Francis Maude and former front bencher John Greenway.
Ryedale MP Mr Greenway said: “For the sake of my party and for the sake of my country, I believe we have to have a vote of confidence.”
Mr Duncan Smith will address a meeting of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs on Wednesday night.
He has pledged to defend his position if challenged and is due to make a statement on the vote soon.
A total of 25 MPs – 15 per cent of the parliamentary party – is needed to trigger a confidence vote. 1922 committee chairman Sir Michael Spicer must now organise the vote, which will take place tomorrow night.
A straight majority of 83 votes would mean the Conservative leader keeps his post. However, anything below that and he will lose his job and is ruled out of any forthcoming leadership contest.
