DUP expected to abstain for second time on crucial Budget votes

Which Conservative MPs have handed in letters of no confidence in Theresa May?

MPs from the Democratic Unionist Party are expected to abstain for a second time on crucial Budget votes in the Commons in protest at Theresa May's Brexit deal.

It comes after Eurosceptics in the party faced questions over the apparent collapse of their efforts to trigger a no confidence in the prime minister.

At a press conference MPs from the European Research Group (ERG) of Brexiteer Conservatives were interrogated over their failure to persuade 48 colleagues to submit letters of no confidence in Ms May to the chair of the 1922 committee, Sir Graham Brady

Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg insisted "patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace" when pressed on whether the necessary 48 letters had been sent, as he warned his colleagues that now might be their only chance to remove Ms May ahead of the next general election.

Tory rebel organiser Steve Baker said it was "now or never" to oust Ms May and characterised the move as an "insurrection by a group of determined democrats" against the "might of the state".

It comes after Mr Rees-Mogg issued a rallying call to other Tory MPs to topple the prime minister last week, when he joined around 26 Conservative backbenchers in publicly submitting no-confidence letters to Sir Graham Brady, of the 1922 committee.

Asked why the threshold had not been met, he said: "Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace. We will see what letters come in due time.

"Do 47 want to come with me or not? I may find that they don't or they don't do it today but when we get the meaningful vote. That's a decision for them."

This liveblog has now closed, but you can read about the events in Westminster today above

Key Points

• No-deal will mean 'lost jobs, lower wages and higher inflation', warns Bank of England

• DUP abstains on crucial votes in warning over May's Brexit agreement

• Pro-Brexit Tories struggle to gather support for leadership challenge

[20 November 2018 15:38 · Ashley Cowburn]

[20 November 2018 15:43 · Ashley Cowburn]

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds called on May to give up her proposed withdrawal agreement and "work for a better deal".

In a statement, Mr Dodds said: "With the rejection of the Prime Minister's withdrawal agreement on all sides of the House and across all parties, it is increasingly clear this deal does not have support necessary to pass the meaningful vote in Parliament...

"Therefore, rather than presenting a binary choice, it is time for the Prime Minister to work for a better deal."

"The Government will require DUP support to deliver its domestic agenda," said Mr Dodds. "We will continue to use our influence for the good of everyone across the United Kingdom.

"If the Government can look beyond a withdrawal agreement which is uniting people from across the political spectrum against it, and instead work towards a better deal, then an outcome can be delivered that truly works to benefit all parts of the United Kingdom."

[20 November 2018 16:02 · Ashley Cowburn]

[20 November 2018 16:12 · Ashley Cowburn]

A "warning shot" to Downing Street for the second consecutive day? DUP expected to violate supply and confidence agreement (again).