The North East's Conservative MPs have remained silent as the pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson grows with the threat of a vote of no confidence vote looming.
Reports have suggested the Tories are close to the 54 letters needed to trigger a leadership challenge against the beleaguered Prime Minister as the Government is rocked by the revelations of Partygate.
It comes after Bury South MP Christian Wakeford defected from the Conservatives to Labour in the run-up to Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, followed by ex- Brexit Secretary David Davis calling on Mr Johnson to resign during PMQs.
