Tory party ballot on Wednesday evening after more than 48 letters sent to
Graham Brady, chair of 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers
The Conservative Brexiter Sir
Bernard Jenkin has just told BBC News that he “agonised” about whether to submit a letter calling for a no confidence vote and only submitted his letter yesterday.
And here’s another reader question.
Only by passing a motion of no confidence in the government, which the leader of the opposition would have to table.
Then May would stay as PM until she was in a position to advise the Queen who she should appoint as her successor. At this point the rules are fuzzy, but the alternatives would be a) a new Tory leader, or b) Jeremy Corbyn, if he could persuade the palace that he had enough votes to win a confidence vote within 14 days.
If no one can form a new government and win a confidence vote, there is an election.
Conceivably Amber Rudd, or Hilary Benn, or Vince Cable (or even Corbyn) could rustle up a cross-party coalition that would pass a confidence vote in a government of national unity, but it does not seem very likely at all.
If it were to happen, it would probably involve most of Labour, the Tory mainstream, and a deal to pass a Norway-style
Brexit, plus an agreement to call an election once that’s done. David Lidington as PM, and Corbyn as deputy PM? But I’m probably getting well into fantasy here ....
If it all goes wrong for
Theresa May tonight, Ed Miliband has some helpful career advice ...