Liz Truss's spokesman has insisted she still wants to lead the Tories into the next election - just as she held crisis talks with the Tories' 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady just metres away.
The comments come after a dozen Tory MPs publicly called for Ms Truss to resign after weeks of turmoil in No10 and scenes of chaos in the Commons last night.
Earlier the cabinet minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan stopped short of saying the Prime Minister will fight the next election as leader in an interview that raised eyebrows.
Asked whether the Prime Minister still thinks she will lead the Conservatives into the next general election, her official spokesman said: "Yes".
They added Ms Truss acknowledges a "difficult day" in her premiership on Wednesday amid chaotic scenes in the Commons and Tory MPs in open revolt but wants to push on as Prime Minister.
But it emerged Ms Truss was meeting with the 1992 Committee chairman Sir Graham in No10 at exactly the same time as her spokesman was addressing journalists.
Sir Graham is the gatekeeper of letters of no confidence from Tory MPs and must inform a Prime Minister when the treshold has been reached to trigger a vote of confidence.
However, under the 1922 Committee's existing rules, a new leader cannot face a leadership challenge for 12 months after becoming leader.
No 10 sources also claimed that Ms Truss had invited Sir Graham to Downing Street on Thursday.
Around an hour later, the Chairman of the Conservative Party Jake Berry was also seen arriving at No 10 and did turn to face the press as he went inside.
Downing Street also denied that there is any change to Ms Truss's plan to stay in No 10 beyond the fiscal plan on October 31.
Asked the question, the Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: "No plans for any change. The Prime Minister will continue beyond the 31st".
Meanwhile the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the events in Parliament had been "even by their standards, a new chaotic low". as he repeated his call for an immediate general election.
He said: "It's pure dogma - the world has moved on from these discredited ideas. And every day the Tories stick to them, is another nail in the coffin of Britain's economic credibility."
Mr Starmer added: "Britain deserves better, Britain cannot afford the chaos of the Conservatives any more, we need a general election now.
"Never again can Britain take seriously their claim to be a party of aspiration or sound money."
