when she took over without a contest when she took over eventually from david cameron. you are watching bbc world news. you're watching a bbc news special with me, joanna gosling, live at westminster. the headlines. the prime minister says she will fight a leadership challenge after enough mps back a vote of no confidence. sirgraham sir graham brady has confirmed that he has received 48 letters from conservative mps so there will now bea conservative mps so there will now be a vote of confidence in my leadership of the conservative party. i will contest that vote with everything i've got. it comes after the chairman of the backbench1922 committee confirmed that the required 48 letters calling for a contest had been received. the prime minister will come and address conservative colleagues at the 1922 committee meeting at 5pm this afternoon and immediately after that meeting, a ballot will be held between 6pm and 8pm and we will count as soon as we can and provide a result as soon

as we can after that. i'll be here at westminster throughout the morning getting reaction to this morning's dramatic developments. welcome to a bbc news special from westminster amidst dramatic news this morning that the prime minister theresa may will face a challenge to her leadership of the conservative party. in the last few minutes, in a statement in downing street, the prime minister vowed to contest the vote with everything she's got. events have moved rapidly this morning. earlier, the chairman of the backbench 1922 committee, sir graham brady, has confirmed that enough tory mps have written to him to trigger

a vote of no confidence, set to be held tonight. the prime minister will address the 1922 committee at 5pm. a ballot is due to be held shortly afterwards between 6pm and 8pm. mrs may must win the support of at least half of the conservative parliamentary party to avoid a leadership contest. if she loses, she will not be able to stand. if she wins, she is safe in her position for a year. here's what the prime minister had to say. sir graham brady has confirmed he has received 48 letters from conservative mps so there will be a vote of confidence in my leadership of the conservative party. i will contest that vote with everything i have got. i have been a member of the conservative party for over 40 yea rs. i have served it as an activist, councillor, mp, shadow minister, home secretary and now as prime minister.

i stood to be leader because i believe in the conservative vision for a better future. a thriving economy with nowhere and nobody left behind. a stronger society, where everyone can make the most of their talents. always serving the national interest. and at this crucial moment in our history, that means securing a brexit deal that delivers on the results of the eu referendum. taking back control of our borders, laws and money but protecting jobs, security and our precious union as we do so. through good times and bad over the last two years, my passionate belief that such a deal is attainable, that a bright future lies ahead for our country, has not wavered. it is now within our grasp. i spent yesterday meeting chancellor angela merkel, the prime minister rutte, president donald tusk and jean—claude juncker,

to express concerns mps have with the backstop and we are making progress. i was due to travel to dublin this afternoon to continue that work, but will now remain in london to make the case for the leadership with my parliamentary colleagues. a change of leadership in the conservative party now will put our country's future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it. a new leader wouldn't be in place by the 21st of january legal deadline so a leadership election risks handing control of the brexit negotiations to opposition mps in parliament. the new leader wouldn't have time to renegotiate a withdrawal agreement and get the legislation through parliament by the 29th of march so one of their first acts would be extending or rescinding article 50, delaying or even stopping brexit when people want us to get on with it. a leadership election would not change the fundamentals of the negotiation or the parliamentary arithmetic. weeks spent tearing ourselves apart

will only create more division just as we should be standing together to serve our country. none of that would be in the national interest. the only people whose interests would be served arejeremy corbyn and john mcdonnell. the british people want us to get on with it and they want us to focus on the other vital issues that matter to them as well. building a stronger economy, delivering first—class public services and the homes that families need. these are the public‘s priorities and they must be the conservative party's priorities also. we must and we shall deliver on the referendum vote and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. but the conservatives must not be a single issue party. we are a party of the whole nation. moderate, pragmatic, mainstream. committed to reuniting our country and building a country that works for everyone. the agenda i set out in my first

speech outside this front door. delivering the brexit people voted for, building a country that works for everyone. i have devoted myself unsparingly to these tasks ever since i became prime minister and i stand ready to finish thejob. absolutely defiant, the prime minister in downing street a bit earlier. we also heard from graham brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee of conservative backbenchers, who talked about the meeting he had with the prime minister last night. i think you can draw from the fact that she was keen to move ahead swiftly, to resolve matters, you know, i think she was keen to get on with herjob and get on with the business of government. clearly, having massive speculation

about whether or not there would be a confidence vote was unhelpful. also, having a protracted period between the announcement that a vote would take place and that vote taking place would have been a very difficult time, not conducive to getting on with the job. i think it is entirely in keeping, i have to say, that she was keen to proceed swiftly and get matters resolved. graham brady, who will be overseeing the process later which starts with theresa may addressing the committee at 5pm. let's get the thoughts of tory mp bill cash, the prominent brexiteer. what do you think? the leadership contest is going head. yes, andi leadership contest is going head. yes, and i think it's necessary. i made a strong speech about this yesterday in the house of commons

about the withdrawn agreement. it is quite clear the house of commons won't accept the withdrawal agreement. it is extremely defective and a whole range of areas. it is not in the national interest. we would not get control over our laws which is what you promised. in fact, she said we will not truly leave the eu unless we get control of our laws and that will not happen in this agreement. it would also be inconsistent with the withdrawal act which we passed injune this year, and in any case, the reality is, dup will not support the prime minister in relation to the withdrawal agreement and that means that indefinitely, under those circumstances, we will not have a majority of the house of commons.“ it in the national interest for there to be even less certainty right now? brexit was already causing a great deal of uncertainty and now we don't know where the leadership of the tory party is going. you can't get less certainty than not having a withdrawal agreement, that is a very

conscription and the reality is we need to have a renegotiated arrangement. people in the european member states, the leaders, we'll get this message. they've had the message loud and clear, and they keep on saying. but the difference is, this is about the leadership of the conservative party and therefore, indirectly, the question of who is to be prime minister and the reality is, we don't have confidence that the prime minister has delivered on the vote of the british people, nor on the withdrawal agreement proposals she put forward in the first place. the chequers arrangements, forgive me, bypassing the cabinet, bouncing them, then we had two macro resignations. we had a terrible example of complete breaches of collective responsibility. we have also had a whole range of other things like, for example, the law office's opinion, the trouble with the attorney general. we had the difficulty of having to have a vote

in the house about contempt. all these things accumulate to the point where the someone loses confidence. some people are saying they could do a betterjob than hair as leader we re a betterjob than hair as leader were directly above that the negotiations, the former foreign secretary, brycejohnson, the former brexit secretaries david davis and dominic raab. i disagree with that in principle because as a matter of fa ct, in principle because as a matter of fact, some of them were to varying degrees but we don't know who the candidate will be yet. i'm not going to go into that right now straight on tv. but these are all figures who are saying that the time is up for the prime minister, the deal that she has negotiated is not good enough. they are all people... in the inner circle and were involved in trying to get a better deal. the inner circle and were involved in trying to get a better deallj think actually we don't know who will emerge but can i simply say this? isn't the point that they were there, they've been in the negotiations, they know there is no better deal. that is not the case, i'm sorry, they resigned because they knew it wasn't working. let's

leave that aside for the moment. but they know what the line has been from brussels. if i may they know what the line has been from brussels. ifi may say they know what the line has been from brussels. if i may say so, that isa from brussels. if i may say so, that is a secondary question, the first question is why should there be a vote of no confidence? the short a nswer vote of no confidence? the short answer is, it is inconsistent with the vote, it is inconsistent with the vote, it is inconsistent with the will of the british people. this arrangement she has entered into, for example, affects northern ireland with the backstop really seriously but there are other things as well. the dup, as i'vejust said, will not support these arrangements and the eu won't support the arrangements because actually, they themselves are saying they don't agree with the prime minister's attempt to renegotiate their withdrawal agreement. every single aspect of this is simply floundering. i said aspect of this is simply floundering. isaid in aspect of this is simply floundering. i said in the house of commons yesterday, it is actually a denial of the referendum vote and in addition to that, we have huge opportunities outside the european union, 90% of all the future growth in the rest of the world is

according to the european commission, coming from outside the eu. atory commission, coming from outside the eu. a tory leadership contest does not change any of the fundamentals of where we are, this is the deal that has been negotiated and there is no renegotiation to it. there is no parliamentary majority for what you are talking about. are we actually now on track to a general election? we will wait and see. let's get this over first. if that is where it leads... it is not necessarily where it leads at all because the question of whether or not a new prime minister, a new conservative party leader, can actually renegotiate the arrangements, the eu would have to face the fact that they are dealing with a different situation and there is another factor as well, this withdrawal agreement, by many standards, is not consistent with the withdrawal act which was passed in 2018. that said we would repeal

the european communities act 1972 in its entirety from exit day but the reality is, the withdrawal agreement is inconsistent with that act of parliament. that in itself is a very serious matter. it is also inconsistent with the status of northern ireland, which is, it's pa rt northern ireland, which is, it's part of the uk. this arrangement differentiates between northern ireland and the rest of the uk in very substantial ways. on two major constitutional issues, it does actually contradict our constitutional arrangements. this withdrawal agreement is a really bad deal and withdrawal agreement is a really bad dealand in withdrawal agreement is a really bad deal and in fact, withdrawal agreement is a really bad dealand infact, it withdrawal agreement is a really bad deal and in fact, it has been rejected by the house of commons in principle, you saw what happened which is why they have called the vote —— pulled the vote. she's not going to get the withdrawal agreement through the house of commons and they are not going to make any substantial changes, and you saw that from the reaction the eu yesterday. you effectively want to know deal brexit? i'm saying is that where it takes us, we would have to be in a position, subject to renegotiation, it is possible and romano prodi said he thought there

could be a renegotiation a couple of days ago, and he knows a lot how that work. there is no time to renegotiation. that is not true. u nless renegotiation. that is not true. unless the clock is stopped or rescinding article 50.|j unless the clock is stopped or rescinding article 50. i would not say rescinding article 50, i don't think that is right, there's the question about extension of time but i believe that would require primary legislation which would mean you would to take an act of parliament through. 50 in the timeframe we are m, through. 50 in the timeframe we are in, the only realistic option is actually a no—deal brexit, the way that you are talking. i am saying... iam not that you are talking. i am saying... i am not afraid of a wto deal. it is not no deal, it is the wto. in those circumstances, i believe it is possible, we have had an enormous number of debates and discussions about all of that, there are many very eminent economists who believe that the wto deal is good for the uk. the reality is, that is a step further down the line. so to pick

you up on that because you say you are not afraid of the wto... you up on that because you say you are not afraid of the wto. .. on the evidence i've seen from the experts in relation to trading arrangement. have you read the experts who say it would result in the economy being £200 million worse off compared with existing rules? that assumes we are not going to have these massive opportunities that come out of the benefits of being able to trade across the world. this current arrangement would not allow us to implement trade deals throughout the whole of the rest of the world until at least 2020. when you say that, it sounds like we have a trade situation with europe and we don't have any trade arrangements with the rest of the world and if we leave europe, we suddenly get the opportunity to negotiate that but thatis opportunity to negotiate that but that is not true, we've got lots of trade agreements with the rest of the world as a result of membership with the eu and they will go. can i say, it is controlled by the

european commission because they control the overall trade policy, but all this talk about the single market and don't forget, we had a ma nifesto market and don't forget, we had a manifesto commitment on this, a ma nifesto manifesto commitment on this, a manifesto commitment on this, a manifesto commitment not to stain the cigar market and not to stay in a customs union, both of those are being contradicted by these arrangements in one shape or another. let me put this, in the single market arrangements, the reality is we have a 90 filly —— 90 £5 billion deficit with the other 27 member states where is germany for example has a trade surplus with the same 27 of £104 billion, so actually, it is not what people make it out to be. we would obviously continue to trade with europe because that is inevitable, they need to trade with us as well. but we will not get better terms than the ones we currently have four trading with europe and as part of being in the eu, the clout there has beenin being in the eu, the clout there has been in negotiating trade deals with other countries. we will be on our own, trying to negotiate. we are not ever going to negotiate better terms. this takes us back to the question of control over laws and the manner in which they are made. i have said this many times in the

house of commons, the reality is, we will not get control over our laws and what is going to happen in the short term, and probably in the indefinite term, on the present arrangements because there is no guarantee that the arrangements in the withdrawal agreement will not be a definite, is that decisions will be taken by other 27 member states, sitting around the council chamber, in the council of ministers. we won't be there. they will make the decisions according to what they want. we will not influence them in any way, shape orform. in addition to that, there won't even be a transcript of the basis on which the majority or consensus is arrived at. it isa majority or consensus is arrived at. it is a complete abrogation of control over our laws. that is what she herself said was the one thing that would demonstrate whether we left the european union or not. who do you think should be leader of the conservative party? i'm not going into that one today but it's kind of you to ask. there are a number of people, candidates. there are people with very substantial

qualifications. i think dominic raab has a lot going for him, he resigned in principle, and he made the very important point in relation to the letter of resignation that he i thought this arrangement in relation to the manifesto and everything we have said, was a breach of public trust. i think that is what a lot of people are very concerned about. quick final thought because if there is to be a leadership contest, is it right it is done as quickly as possible? it will be. wouldn't the most sensible thing for the party be to ensure the brexiteers can coalesce around one candidate that they can decide amongst themselves and likewise on the other side?” and likewise on the other side?|j think and likewise on the other side?” think that is the trend but it is all happening very quickly at the moment. i think that is the trend. i think one candidate will be the best answer. rather than boris johnson, david davis and dominic raab standing separately?” david davis and dominic raab standing separately? i can't answer that question and i can't settle on

one candidate. i don't mention dominic raab apart from the fact i think he has got very good... he knows and understands the eu because he was the foreign office lawyer and are dealing with these questions when he was secretary of state. borisjohnson was when he was secretary of state. boris johnson was foreign when he was secretary of state. borisjohnson was foreign secretary. yes but this is very much a legal question. you've heard the lawyers, eve ryo ne question. you've heard the lawyers, everyone knows this is ultimately a legal as well as a political question and i think dominic raab has very good credentials on that. he had the experience of being secretary of state and he said he was hoodwinked by the government, by effectively the prime minister, by the civil servants. david davis said he was bypassed. the break—up of collective responsibility, it is simply amazing, in british constitutional history, i've never seen anything like it and it really is quite extraordinary. this is one of the reasons why the vote of confidence is necessary. i think we should get on with it this evening. and that is what theresa may has said, let's get on with it. thank you forjoining us. kasia madera.

norman smith, our assistant political editor, is in downing street and another day of high drama. huge drama and i thought most striking, the statement from theresa may we heard in the past hour, clearly determined to fight this all the way and massively raising the sta kes, the way and massively raising the stakes, saying in effect that a leadership contest would put the country's future at a risk and brexit at risk so upping the ante for the tory mps who are so withering, another key moment today is going to be at 5pm when mrs may gets to address tory mps just before they go to vote. at 5pm, she stands up they go to vote. at 5pm, she stands up infront they go to vote. at 5pm, she stands up in front of tory mps in committee room 14, to give her pitch to the 1922 committee and backbenchers. immediately after that, they will vote. that gives mrs may, it seems to me, a huge advantage because the

last thing tory mps will have ringing in various is mrs may's argument and appeal to them to keep her as leader. but the stakes are absolutely colossal. as i say, we have already heard from one cabinet minister this morning, saying that if mrs may is toppled, then article 50 will have to be delayed. in other words, at the least, our departure from the eu will have to be put on hold because any new leader would not be in place before possibly the end of january or even not be in place before possibly the end ofjanuary or even february. that is contested by brexiteers who say you could have a high speed leadership contest, done and dusted over the christmas recess, a new person in place for the new year, new leader, new deal, start again, change the dynamic with the eu, get a better brexit deal. absolutely massive stakes and what is at issue is not just mrs massive stakes and what is at issue is notjust mrs may's leadership but brexit itself. what are the chances

of her surviving tonight?” brexit itself. what are the chances of her surviving tonight? i think it is going to be very close. talking to those who are sort of supportive and herfriends, to those who are sort of supportive and her friends, they to those who are sort of supportive and herfriends, they insist one vote, just one vote is enough. technically, yes it is enough. i suspect a lot of people would take the view that if you had, i don't know, 130 out of the 316 tory mps voting against her, that would be such a cataclysmic loss of faith it would be hard to carry on. there's also the question about whether the eu will really be prepared to engage with the prime minister, given the sort of lack of support she had in her own party. however, just going back to the statement by the prime minister, i mean, it seems pretty clear to me that she feels there is a sense of duty for her to deliver on what she regards as a deal in the national interest. i think in her mindset, she is also of the view that one vote will be enough for her

to continue. in practical terms, that could be awfully difficult. it is quite conceivable that cabinet ministers would say, "hang on a minute, this is really not going to work, if you try to go ahead on that basis, there is no way you will get the meaningful vote or the deal through anyway and when you put it in the house of commons you will be voted down and then what?" but from her perspective and certainly the perspective of her allies, the way they are pitching it is a simple majority is enough to retain her as leader and prime minister. just explained the thinking on the brexiteer side and the remainder side, because they are not happy with what she has come up with, and eve ryo ne with what she has come up with, and everyone wants to renegotiate, and europe has made clear there is no renegotiation. does that leave the brexiteers in a position where they say, and i have heard this from several of the brexiteer mps this morning, that we should leave on

world trade organisation terms,, a no—deal brexit? world trade organisation terms,, a no-deal brexit? there are different views among different kinds of brexiteers, it's absolutely true, some i have spoken to say, what is the rush? we can have a long leadership contest, in the belief that will drag out more time and we will inesca pably move that will drag out more time and we will inescapably move towards march the 29th and leave without a deal. others, while they don't think no deal would be cataclysmic, nevertheless there will be severe economic damage and wants to avoid it. their argument is that the decision to delay the meaningful vote really was a tipping point for many of them, notjust because of the impression of a government on the impression of a government on the back foot, in disarray, the prime minister unable to put a deal before parliament but because of mrs may's tone during that debate and what they wanted was for mrs may to discover her inner margaret thatcher and to say, in effect, "i hear what

you are saying, i get it, we've got to get rid of the backstop and that is what i'm going to tell the eu". instead, what they had was the prime minister saying, "it's all very difficult, we will try to get some clarification, some kind of notification, to spell out how the backstop might work". in other words, they thought mrs may was just carrying on as the supplicant, going on bended knee to the eu and they ta ke on bended knee to the eu and they take the view that the problem is not the deal, it is actually the negotiator, mrs may. their view is that we are simply not going to get a better deal if mrs may remains the negotiator because they say she simply doesn't have the sheer brutal resolve to drive through a hard—nosed resolve to drive through a ha rd—nosed negotiation. resolve to drive through a hard—nosed negotiation. the only way you get a new deal, they say, to get a new leader. and if it were to go down that path of trying for a new

deal, is there any alternative to stopping the clock and stopping article 50, or rescinding article 50? i mean, it is very difficult because time is so narrow. if you go along with the brexiteers' game plan, namely, confidence vote tonight, parliamentary leadership hustings next week, a vote for party members over the christmas recess, new leader in place for the start of the parliamentary term onjanuary the parliamentary term onjanuary the 7th, you are into the second week of january. the the 7th, you are into the second week ofjanuary. the new leader goes to brussels and says, "forget all you have heard before, we are not putting up with the backstop". i imagine brussels would say, "well, think again, my friend. we've been negotiating this for 21 months. if you think you can come here, bang the table and change everything, that's not happening". then you are ina that's not happening". then you are in a situation where either we drift remorselessly towards no deal or you

revoke article 50 all, there has to be some kind of damascene conversion amongst eu leaders who suddenly repent of their previous insistence ona repent of their previous insistence on a backstop and say, "you know what? a free trade agreement is fine". i think the likely default scenario would surely be delay, if there is a new leader and a new prime minister, to buy themselves some time. otherwise... you know the way the eu works, it moves inexorably slowly. the idea it could suddenly bring everything together with a revamped free trade deal and then also get all the other eu countries to sign up to it, you know, you can absolutely guarantee the french would be pondering and say, "we rather liked the look of your fish, say, "we rather liked the look of yourfish, we say, "we rather liked the look of your fish, we won't do the deal u nless we your fish, we won't do the deal unless we get access to the fishing

waters". the spanish would say they haveissues waters". the spanish would say they have issues about gibraltar. it is ha rd to have issues about gibraltar. it is hard to say how even if hypothetically the european commission were to have this conversion towards accepting and free trade agreement, that they could get all the other eu leaders lined up to the great and then the european parliament would have to approve it, all before leaving day. i would think that is stretching the bounds of credibility. it seems to be the default, if it is not to be no deal, would have to be delay, which would mean revoking article 50 and buying more time. norman, we have lived through dramatic political times. how does this compare with previous dramas?m political times. how does this compare with previous dramas? it is right up there. i mean, it isjust extraordinary. every day is another tumultuous day and every day, you come into westminster and you think, surely today it will calm down a bit but it goes up another gear. but let's be honest, mrs may could still win this vote. it is possible that tory mps might just

win this vote. it is possible that tory mps mightjust balk at the enormity of the upheaval they would now be embarking on, were they to oust the prime minister. you know, it is not inconceivable that mrs may wins. she is then in position for another year. if she is the prime minister who delivers on brexit, i have no doubt her aides would argue that would provide her with a brexit bounce. philip hammond has already talked about a deal dividend for the economy. there would be greater certainty, greater confidence. who knows, frankly? it could be a defining moment for the brexiteers we re defining moment for the brexiteers were they to lose tonight. maybe it is they who would be vanquished. but either way you cut it, when we get to 9pm, and we are told the result will be announced at 9pm, it is going to be one way or another a defining moment in the course of this country. a less than 12 hours away, norman, thank you very much!

let's get the thoughts of labour mp stephen doughty, no doubt looking at what is going on in the tory party with what sentiment?” what is going on in the tory party with what sentiment? i think this whole sorry saga shows what happens when you put the party interest and your own self interest in the case of the prime minister about the interest of the country and peoples jobs and livelihoods. i think the prime minister has failed to reach out during this whole process on a series of occasions and parliament is in chaos. we don't have a majority for this no deal, utterly reckless idea that that would be, there is no majority for the so—called norway solution. there is no majority for her deal, crucially and the only way out of this will be putting this back to the people, i think. it is clear parliament is in chaos and cannot find a way forward at the moment under this or any other leader so either they will have to do is to put this back to the people or parliament will take back control and do it for them. there was a lot of pressure on jeremy corbyn and other mps to call

a vote of no—confidence. jeremy corbyn and other mps to call a vote of no-confidence. inevitably it will happen because the reality is now the prime minister will have to come back and showed she has the confidence of the house. if she is replace any new leader coming in would have to devote that —— face that vote as well. is it conceivable vote of no—confidence in the government could be called at the same time as this leadership contest? indeed it could and it up to the front bench what the timing of that is. potentially it could happen today? it could happen today, tomorrow or next week. would that be right for the country? we have to be clear whether we have a government able to command a majority of the house and a majority of the country with a way forward out of this chaos. so you do need the leadership contest to roll forward to see where

everything lies? the mathematics in parliament has change, whoever is leading the conservative party, they have to find a way of finding a way through this. the only way i can see of doing that is putting this decision back to the people. there is division and chaos in parliament and the people's jobs and livelihoods are being put at risk with this internal fight in the conservative party. the deal agreed is the only deal theresa may says, europe says it is the only deal and there will be no renegotiation. it was made clear yesterday. it was clear then where this country was politically and the message was, you have got the best deal. the only alternatives are no deal or remain ash tree mark i think no deal would be catastrophic and those mps are suggesting it and it is utterly irresponsible. not just suggesting it and it is utterly irresponsible. notjust gambling with the economy but also security.

only a handful of mps are suggesting it as an option. if we reject that are not accepting her deal, what is the way forward? i think it is putting it back to the people, choosing to leave with the deal, without a deal or remain. many people voted leave and i understand and respect that. many gave me good reasons for voting leave but they are looking at chaos. you think no deal would be wrong? you don't like the still, you would like there to bea the still, you would like there to be a referendum, no deal or this deal? i would like there to be a vote on leaving with a deal. people have talked about other options. but the melody is, we have to look at whether we want to keep the deal we have got. a lot of people are looking now as this country hurtles towards purposes without a driver and they are saying, wait, i want to stop and get off this. whatever i

thought originally, it is absurd. isn't it time for labour to be explicit on what you would campaign for. i would campaign for remain and the labour party campaigned for remain but the labour party has a clear policy. we were going to reject this deal if it didn't meet the test and then we thought there should be a vote of no—confidence and a general election. if that is impossible because of the fixed term and acti impossible because of the fixed term and act i would love to see if general election to remove this government for all sorts of reasons, but we need to put this issue back to the people in a public vote. the sticking point the backstop. for some people. for the labour party, many don't have any issue with the backstop, it is an obsession of conservative mps and the disquiet about this deal goes beyond this. i will not vote for the deal because it makes my constituents poorer and less safe. instead of drawing a line

under this, it will make brexit go on, and on, and on. when you say you don't have any issue with the backstop don't have any issue with the ba cksto p we don't have any issue with the backstop we don't have an issue with there being a border between northern ireland and... there being a border between northern ireland and. . ” there being a border between northern ireland and... i do have an issue, the whole point of a backstop issue, the whole point of a backstop is to prevent the border. we should never have suggested coming out of the single market and the customs union in the first place and the reckless way this issue has been used, we cannot put the safety between the island of ireland and i don't want to see a border between wales and border between scotland. what she put forward could not command support in the commons at all ends of the spectrum. we have to find a way through this and i believe putting it back to the people. isn't retaining the territorial integrity of the uk com pletely territorial integrity of the uk completely at odds with leaving the eu? it is one of the reasons i

didn't vote to trigger article 50 in the first place. but the reality is we have put that option to the house number of times. it wasn't supported and therefore we will have to put this back to the people let them decide. thank you very much. let me talk you through the choreography here today, if you can call it that. it is ad hoc choreography, it was a day when the prime minister was due to go to ireland to meet the irish premier and talk about the issues around the border there. but she is now not going to ireland. instead what is going to happen is she is remaining in london to speak to mps, talking about what happens now with that leadership contest she is facing. 48 tory mps, they have written to the 1922 committee saying they would like there to be a vote and that is the process by which this leadership ballot has been

triggered today. so tonight there will be a secret ballot that will be held between 6pm and 8pm and prior to that theresa may will address the tory mps at 5pm and they will go off and vote and the results of that vote will be published at 9pm and in downing street this morning, the prime minister vowed to contest that confidence vote with everything she's got warning a leadership contest would put brexit at risk. sir graham brady has confirmed he has received 48 letters from conservative mps so there will be a vote of confidence in my leadership of the conservative party. i will contest that vote with everything i have got. i have been a member of the conservative party for over 40 yea rs. i have served it as an activist, councillor, mp, shadow minister, home secretary and now as prime minister. i stood to be leader because i believe in the conservative vision for a better future. a thriving economy with nowhere

and nobody left behind. a stronger society, where everyone can make the most of their talents. always serving the national interest. and at this crucial moment in our history, that means securing a brexit deal that delivers on the results of the eu referendum. taking back control of our borders, laws and money but protecting jobs, security and our precious union as we do so. through good times and bad over the last two years, my passionate belief that such a deal is attainable, that a bright future lies ahead for our country, has not wavered. it is now within our grasp. i spent yesterday meeting chancellor angela merkel, the prime minister rutte, president donald tusk and jean—claude juncker, to address concerns mps have with the backstop and we

are making progress. i was due to travel to dublin this afternoon to continue that work, but will now remain in london to make the case for the leadership with my parliamentary colleagues. a change of leadership in the conservative party now will put our country's future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it. a new leader wouldn't be in place by the 21st of january legal deadline so a leadership election risks handing control of the brexit negotiations to opposition mps in parliament. the new leader wouldn't have time to renegotiate a withdrawal agreement and get the legislation through parliament by the 29th of march so one of their first acts would be extending or rescinding article 50, delaying or even stopping brexit when people want us to get on with it. a leadership election would not change the fundamentals of the negotiation or the parliamentary arithmetic. weeks spent tearing ourselves apart will only create more division just as we should be standing together to serve our country.

none of that would be in the national interest. the only people whose interests would be served arejeremy corbyn and john mcdonnell. the british people want us to get on with it and they want us to focus on the other vital issues that matter to them as well. building a stronger economy, delivering first—class public services and the homes that families need. these are the public‘s priorities and they must be the conservative party's priorities also. we must and we shall deliver on the referendum vote and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. but the conservatives must not be a single issue party. we are a party of the whole nation. moderate, pragmatic, mainstream. committed to reuniting our country and building a country that works for everyone. the agenda i set out in my first speech outside this front door. delivering the brexit people voted

for, building a country that works for everyone. i have devoted myself unsparingly to these tasks ever since i became prime minister and i stand ready to finish thejob. theresa may in downing street. she told the leader of the 1922 committee that she wanted to get on with it. with the 48 letters reached there would likely be a development after prime minister's questions this afternoon but everything started early and theresa may saying she wants to get on with this and getting on with the business of government. lots of reaction from mps on twitter. jeremy hunt has

treated... i am mps on twitter. jeremy hunt has treated... iam backing mps on twitter. jeremy hunt has treated... i am backing theresa may tonight, being prime minister is the most difficultjob imaginable right now and the last thing the country needsis now and the last thing the country needs is a damaging and long leadership contest. brexit was never going to be easy but she is the best person to make sure we actually leave the eu on march the 29th. sajid javid writes... also supporting the prime minister, the secretary of state for international trade, liam fox... and the conservative mp, bernard

jenkin has treated... some of those who have come out and stated their loyalty publicly to the prime minister include potential contenders to be her successor. so running through some of the key names, jeremy hunt, sajid javid, michael gove, penny mordaunt, liam fox, steve barclay, david liddington, amber rudd, chris grayling and chris brogan show i have made statements of support this morning for the prime minister. i should say back cabinet has been cancelled this morning but prime minister's questions goes ahead at midday. with me now is the conservative mp simon hoare. the leadership contest goes ahead?

it does, i think this is a tantrum from some in my party who are just not happy they are getting their way. i thought the tweet you read out from chuka umunna is right, you can change the leader every day between now and new year's eve, it wouldn't change the parliamentary arithmetic. it is all well and good for bernard jenkin to say we changed prime minister in 1940, but we then formed a national government. we didn't try to govern alone. i am not sure whether his historical analogy stands up because i don't thing he is advocating and national government. another thing that doesn't change is the fact the dup will not support this agreement and without the dup supporting the government it is a government without an majority, a government without an majority, a government without power. if i can read what arlene foster has said, i am

surprised. yesterday i realised there were lots of conversations going on but my focus is on the withdrawal agreement and the fact the backstop needs to be taken out of the withdrawal agreement. theresa may got nowhere yesterday with doing that, so therefore she is a prime minister who doesn't come manpower. with greatest respect to our friends in the dup, it is the conservative party who decides who leads the conservative party and not another party, irrespective of how friendly they have been to as either now, in they have been to as either now, in the past or in the future. i do wish in northern ireland we were able to hear more voices on this issue. it isa hear more voices on this issue. it is a great shame we haven't got a northern irish assembly which would provide a more mixed platform of use. hang on, sorryjust... northern ireland voted to remain in the referendum and northern ireland farmers are supportive of the deal.

i think it is a mistake to assume the dup speaks for the whole of northern ireland. the dup holds a key position in the commons and your party is reliant on its support? key position in the commons and your party is reliant on its support7m is an important position but not blackmail chip and the tory party will not be held to ransom and we will not be held to ransom and we will not be held to ransom and we will not have who are leader is and what our policies are, dictated to by other parties. then it is a political stalemate because there is no way without the dup support the government can get anything through. this is a modern way of defining the success of a government, there are lots of things government can do without enacting legislation. the house should be focused on delivering a brexit deal which respects the result of the referendum but moves the country forward. we can not be blackmailed by people who just don't happen to like the direction of travel and are

not prepared to wake up, smell the coffee, and seek the vast majority of mps are in favour of the eu relationship with the uk ending, but we leave that relationship with a deal. i think you run towards a general election. you can change the prime minister every day between now and the new year, it doesn't change the arithmetic and the majority of people over there in that place, wa nt to people over there in that place, want to see us leave with a deal which respects the referendum result, but also preserves and protects our national economy.“ that the territory we are in, heading for another general election? you say it's not down to the dup to decide policy, we have beenin the dup to decide policy, we have been ina the dup to decide policy, we have been in a position where yesterday a vote was pulled, the bill the prime minister wants to get through, she couldn't even put because she knows

there is no way it is going to go through. the prime minister is dammed if she did and dammed if she didn't with regards to that. if she hadn't have listened to those three days of debate and carried on regardless she would have been accused of being arrogant. because she did listen and say there is a major theme coming through on all sides of the house with concerns about the backstop, i will press the pause button on this debate, not cancel it but pause it and go back and see if i can get clarification, greater assurance which may help parliament come to an majority view to support the deal. i think that is the action of a responsible states person who is thinking about the national interest and trying to square a very difficult parliamentary circle. she should be applauded rather than condemned. joining us now from the bbc newsroom is our business correspondent dominic o'connell.

how other markets reacting? they are hardly reacting at all. the markets don't know how to price the outcome. the arithmetic in parliament hasn't changed and they are no clearer whether there will be in no deal, manage deal, theresa may's deal or a second referendum. with that level of outcomes, they cannot make up their mind so the market has a muted reaction to this leadership contest. thank you very much. with me now is the conservative mp and former cabinet minister, john whittingdale. you are not supporting theresa may? no, i shan't be. why not? i decided a few weeks ago this should be a vote of no confidence because the prime minister was determined to press ahead with the deal, which i cannot support because it does not

deliver brexit and it does not have the support of parliament. since she was unwilling to move away from that position i reached the conclusion we needed a new leader who would. are you in favour of a no—deal brexit? what i want is a free trade agreement which will deliver the opportunities for britain which brexit represents. when i went to see michel barnier, it was clear that deal was on the table, but for some reason the prime minister decided she wanted to pursue her checkers proposal instead. what i would like to do is go back to michel barnier and say can we talk about the free trade agreement in order to avoid no deal. but if we have to leave without a deal, then that happens. the message is, there is no other deal, this is it. that is no other deal, this is it. that is the prime minister's message. no, it was out of europe as well. they we re it was out of europe as well. they were not prepared to make amendments to the withdrawal agreement as it is

proposed. we want a free trade agreement which is completely different and is what the european union originally proposed to us. i was a michel barnier when he set out his vision of a future relationship which is close to the one we want. explain how it works and how it works with northern ireland. northern ireland is the concern which he said it could not apply to northern ireland because you want to maintain an open border. as the prime minister said on monday, alternative arrangements using technology are available, it is the reason she gives as to why the backstop will eventually become unnecessary. what we would like is go back to brussels and say technology does exist, because it is in the withdrawal agreement and that can be used to allow us to form the free trade agreement, which means we are able to strike deals with countries around the globe and we are not trapped in the eu regulatory framework. what has changed since just a matter of months ago that the message was, and i appreciate you

are saying and borisjohnson has been saying, the technology does exist. the message was very strongly, it doesn't. now they say it does, but not in a way that actually cements anything, saying potentially in the future that can be looked at so nobody is saying it is their right now to do the deal you are talking about? it is used on a number of borders around the world. our view is, a number of borders around the world. ourview is, in a number of borders around the world. our view is, in may require some checking goods moving from northern ireland to southern ireland but that doesn't have to be done at the border. it can be done in advance with technology. it happens ina large advance with technology. it happens in a large number of places. the fa ct in a large number of places. the fact the prime minister has included that in her own statement as a solution to the backstop suggest it has been recognised by the government as well. you make it sound very simple, but it is not going to be a simple case of changing anything, so does that mean

evenif changing anything, so does that mean even if you got your way and everything you were talking about the possible, article 50 would have to be rescinded to buy more time? not rescinded but it would be necessary for a new leader to go to the un say we want a deal and talk about the one which you propose, but we're not going to do it in the next six weeks so we need an extension. we have been hearing from sir ian brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee, he received a calling for the vote of no—confidence and will oversee the process. i spoke to the prime minister on the telephone last night to consult her on how the process should be ordered and what the timetable might be. she was very keen that matters be resolved as quickly as is reasonably possible. which is very much in

accordance with the party's rules. so we made the announcement early this morning. the prime minister will come and address conservative collea g u es will come and address conservative colleagues at the 1922 committee meeting at 5pm this afternoon and immediately after that meeting, a ballot will be held between 6pm and 8pm and we will count, as soon as we can and provide a result as soon as we can after that. obviously with the intention of providing some clarity as is quickly as possible. it isa clarity as is quickly as possible. it is a straightforward choice, either colleagues say they have confidence in theresa may as leader of the conservative party or they don't have confidence in theresa may as leader of the conservative party. obviously, colleagues will be thinking that through during the course of the day. if she gets the backing of the party in this evening's vote then there is a moratorium, no further vote of no confidence could take place for a

fall, 12 month period. it is a case that if a leader of the party loses no—confidence vote we will proceed to choose a new leader of the party. the prime minister would remain prime minister in the meantime, but the timetable and the rules would have to be decided by the 1922 executive committee and approved by the board of the conservative party. obviously we would seek to settle that as quickly as possible should the need arise. parliamentary stage is where we try to whittle it down to two candidates. but then conducting a postal ballot of members in the country would take a little longer. good morning it is a cloudy start to the day but things should get brighter through today. over the next few days, well we are seeing brighter skies, more in the way of sunshine, it will turn colder but there will be some rain in the west.

that is because we have some weather fronts and weather systems moving in from the west. however, with a big area of high pressure situated towards the north—east, that is blocking these weather systems for now, except this one. this is a wea ker cold now, except this one. this is a weaker cold fronts across scotland, northern ireland, wales and the south—west. patchy rain associated with that. elsewhere there will be some sunny spells developing into the afternoon. originating from the saudis, spreading north and west woods. maximum temperature is seven or8 woods. maximum temperature is seven or 8 degrees, but perhaps up to 8 degrees in belfast, 10 degrees in plymouth. this evening and overnight, we will continue with the cloudy skies and outbreaks of rain across northern ireland, west wales and the south—west of england. clear spells developing elsewhere. colder

than last night, temperatures getting down to around one, three or 4 degrees. during thursday we have just a weather system out towards the west, but high—pressure is blocking it from making too much progress eastwards. always the western areas that will stay quite west. on thursday we will see a south easterly wind developing across the uk and that will turn noticeably colder. increasing amounts of sunshine during thursday, try and clearer air extending across many areas but it will be cloudy across far western areas. it will be across far western areas. it will be a strong wind so bear it in mind. when the thermometer says at around six or seven celsius, factor in the fairly strong wind and it will probably feel more like freezing to two or three degrees out and about. noticeably colder through thursday. friday will feel chilly with the south—easterly wind. quite a bit of cloud around and a few showers towards western areas but there will be some sunny spells developing but then on friday night into saturday, this weather system does make some

progress but friday into saturday it could bring snow towards northern parts of the uk before turning wet and windy on saturday. so quite a lot going on for the end of the week. well worth staying tuned to the forecast. goodbye. hello, it's wednesday, it's 10 o'clock, i'm victoria derbyshire. the prime minister has eight hours to save herjob. her own mps will vote tonight on whether they want her to carry on being their leader. a change of leadership in the conservative party now will put our country's future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it. here in downing street, the prime minister's allies remain quietly confident and say a win byjust one vote will be enough. her critics warn a new brexit deal will mean a new tory leader. this is the confirmation

from sir graham brady from the 1922 committee of mps that 48 mps have written to him to say they have no confidence in theresa may, which is enough