Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to face a vote of no confidence later on today - but he already has the backing of some North East Conservative MPs.
Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, confirmed in a statement on Monday that he has now received the 54 letters from Conservative MPs needed to trigger a vote. No10 said in a statement the vote was a chance to end "months of speculation" while some senior MPs have rushed to Mr Johnson's defence.
However, the Prime Minister has also faced fierce criticism from the opposition including Labour leader Keir Starmer who said the public mood has changed with a "general sense that this man doesn't really tell the truth". Former foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, also warned the Tories would lose the next election if he remained in post.
Read more: Boris Johnson no confidence vote: How does it work and what could happen next?
But in the North East, some Conservative MPs have already expressed their support for the Prime Minister ahead of the vote of no confidence. Guy Opperman, MP for Hexham, said he "does not support" his colleagues "undermining" the Prime Minister and said the Government should be focusing on other matters.
He said: "I believe Government should be focusing on the issues affecting our economy, the cost of living, and the necessity of ending the war in Ukraine. I do not believe the many months associated with leadership change helps that; I do not support colleagues undermining the PM.
"The PM has my support as we collectively address these issues post covid; that means levelling up, enhanced pension saving, better education/skills and real conservative policies both to grow our economy and look after the most vulnerable in our society."
Meanwhile, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, said: "The PM has my total support in tonight's vote: His vision for our great country is mine too - to give us all the tools to be ambitious, bold and confident citizens, with businesses globally successful so our taxes can support amazing public services."
In response to a Labour Party politician, Baron Adonis, saying if Boris goes, Brexit goes, Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, suggested that he would be backing the Prime Minister during an exchange on Twitter. He tweeted: "Typical inner-London centric Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer.
"They didn’t respect the will of the people at the referendum They didn’t respect #GE2019 when Starmer, Pidcock & co tried to get a second referendum and make Jeremy Corbyn our PM #BackBoris."
Fellow North East Conservative MPs Dehenna Davison, Paul Gibson, Paul Howell, and Ian Levy have not yet commented and did not respond when contacted.
The upcoming vote – by secret ballot – will take place at Westminster on Monday between 6pm and 8pm, with the count to take place immediately afterwards.
A steady stream of Tory MPs called publicly for the Prime Minister to stand down in the wake the Gray report, but discontent goes far wider, covering Mr Johnson's economic policies which have seen the tax burden reach the highest in 70 years, as well as his style of leadership.
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