Conservative Party leadership contest EXPLAINED: How the Tories will elect next leader
THERESA MAY’S position as leader of the Tories is under threat after several ministers resigned over her proposed Brexit deal. Here’s how the Tories will elect their next leader.
Rees-Mogg submits letter of no confidence in Theresa May
Prime Minister Theresa May has spent the day defending her proposed exit deal from the European Union after she secured a slim majority of support from the cabinet Wednesday. Mrs May’s authority has faced a massive blow after senior ministers including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey all resigned in protest to the suggested Brexit deal.
And speculation is mounting Conservative MPs are nearing the 48 letters needed to trigger a vote of confidence in the prime minister.
Jacob Rees-Mogg even put the question directly to the Prime Minister during her address to MPs on Thursday.
The Brexiteer told Mrs May directly in the House of Commons: “My Right Honourable friend, and she is unquestionably honourable, said that we would leave the customs union. Annex 2 says otherwise.
"My Right Honourable friend said that she would maintain the integrity of the United Kingdom. A whole protocol says otherwise.
"My Right Honourable friend said that we would be out of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Article 174 says otherwise.
“As what my Right Honourable friend says, and what my Right Honourable friend does, no longer match.
"Should I write to my Right Honourable friend, the member for Altrincham and Sale West?”
That person is Sir Graham Brady, who is chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee which plays an important rule in choosing the Tory party leader.
How will the Tories elect their next leader?
For the Tories to be able to trigger a leadership contest, 15 percent of MPs would need to write letters demanding a confidence vote to the chairman of the party’s 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.
The Conservatives currently have 315 MPs in Government and would need 48 letters written from individual members for a vote to be called.
If a confidence vote is triggered, all Conservative MPs can vote.
Theresa May would need to receive more than 50 percent of the votes to remain in office and if every member of the party votes, that would mean 158 votes.
Should such a vote be called, the ballots will be cast as soon as possible under Conservative rules.
And if Mrs May loses, a leadership contest will take place to decide her replacement.
Sometimes several candidates put themselves forward, and in this case a secret vote is held among the Tory MPs where in the first round the candidates with the fewest votes is removed.
Conservative lawmakers then vote again until they have their new party leader and prime minister.
Theresa May SLAPS-DOWN backbencher's calls for new PM
Who could replace Theresa May?
List of potential replacements include:
Amber Rudd
David Davis
Michael Fallon