THERESA May has urged Tory MPs not to trigger a vote of no-confidence in her leadership despite widespread fury at her Brexit plans.
The Prime Minister met her party's backbench 1922 Committee tonight
after the shock Cabinet resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson.
Their dramatic departures have thrown Mrs May's Brexit proposals into chaos and sparked rumours she could face a leadership challenge.
The 1922 Committee is understood to have received letters from Eurosceptic MPs calling for a vote of no confidence in Mrs May.
A vote on her future would be triggered if the Committee, chaired by senior MP Sir Graham Brady, receives letters from 48 MPs.
Their dramatic departures have thrown Mrs May's Brexit proposals into chaos and sparked rumours she could face a leadership challenge.
The 1922 Committee is understood to have received letters from Eurosceptic MPs calling for a vote of no confidence in Mrs May.
A vote on her future would be triggered if the Committee, chaired by senior MP Sir Graham Brady, receives letters from 48 MPs.
A senior Tory source said it seems "pretty certain" that 48 letters would be lodged to spark a leadership challenge.
But a defiant Mrs May used the meeting to urge MPs to back her, or risk hard-left Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn seizing power.
She reminded the backbenchers that Tory splits led to the party's crushing defeat at the 1997 general election at the hands of New Labour.
Pro-Remain MPs including Business Secretary Greg Clark led cheers for Mrs May before she delivered her speech.
Brexiteer Tory MP Michael Fabricant tweeted: "PM gets rousing cheer and standing ovation before she begins to speak."
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The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg on the 1922 Committee meeting
But a defiant Mrs May used the meeting to urge MPs to back her, or risk hard-left Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn seizing power.
She reminded the backbenchers that Tory splits led to the party's crushing defeat at the 1997 general election at the hands of New Labour.
Pro-Remain MPs including Business Secretary Greg Clark led cheers for Mrs May before she delivered her speech.
Brexiteer Tory MP Michael Fabricant tweeted: "PM gets rousing cheer and standing ovation before she begins to speak."
The Prime Minister entered the 1922
meeting at 5:30pm after spending two hours in the Commons chamber
answering questions about Brexit.
As she walked into the room at Westminster's Portcullis House, she joked to journalists waiting outside: "I wonder what you're all doing here."
Then, speaking to the MPs inside, she said: "Hello ladies and gentlemen. What a lot of people here."
It is far from clear that Mrs May would lose any vote of no confidence.
Rebels are by no means certain of securing the backing of 159 Tory MPs which they would need for a successful coup.
As she walked into the room at Westminster's Portcullis House, she joked to journalists waiting outside: "I wonder what you're all doing here."
Then, speaking to the MPs inside, she said: "Hello ladies and gentlemen. What a lot of people here."
It is far from clear that Mrs May would lose any vote of no confidence.
Rebels are by no means certain of securing the backing of 159 Tory MPs which they would need for a successful coup.
However,
a narrow victory would leave Mrs May as a wounded Prime Minister and
raise doubts over the viability of her remaining in office.
Sir Graham Brady declined to comment on whether he had received any letters from MPs calling for a no confidence vote in Mrs May.
He said: "It would be entirely improper ever to comment in any way on that subject, because inevitably a commentary could influence the course of events."
Asked if Mrs May would fight any attempt to remove her through a vote of no confidence, a senior Downing Street source said: "Yes."
Sir Graham Brady declined to comment on whether he had received any letters from MPs calling for a no confidence vote in Mrs May.
He said: "It would be entirely improper ever to comment in any way on that subject, because inevitably a commentary could influence the course of events."
Asked if Mrs May would fight any attempt to remove her through a vote of no confidence, a senior Downing Street source said: "Yes."
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Earlier today, Conservative backbencher Andrea Jenkyns said she believed that Mrs May's time as Prime Minister was "over".
She said: "I want a Prime Minister who passionately believes in Brexit and will provide true leadership and a positive post-Brexit vision for our country."
And senior backbencher Bernard Jenkin said there had been a "massive haemorrhage of trust" in Mrs May's leadership.
Asked if Brexiteers needed to put the PM's future to a vote of the Conservative Party, he replied: "It may well come to that."
She said: "I want a Prime Minister who passionately believes in Brexit and will provide true leadership and a positive post-Brexit vision for our country."
And senior backbencher Bernard Jenkin said there had been a "massive haemorrhage of trust" in Mrs May's leadership.
Asked if Brexiteers needed to put the PM's future to a vote of the Conservative Party, he replied: "It may well come to that."
The resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson came just days after they approved Mrs May's soft Brexit plan at Chequers.
Mr Davis was first to go, announcing his exit last night, saying he could not be a "reluctant conscript" to her Brexit approach.
But there was growing speculation about Mr Johnson's plans today after he failed to attend a Government meeting.
Dominic Raab was picked to replace Mr Davis as Brexit Secretary, but Mr Johnson's replacement has not yet been named.
Mr Davis was first to go, announcing his exit last night, saying he could not be a "reluctant conscript" to her Brexit approach.
But there was growing speculation about Mr Johnson's plans today after he failed to attend a Government meeting.
Dominic Raab was picked to replace Mr Davis as Brexit Secretary, but Mr Johnson's replacement has not yet been named.
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