Brexit - as it happened: Eurosceptic issues leadership challenge to Theresa May's cabinet as no-confidence vote intrigue grows

Fresh cabinet appointments include Amber Rudd as DWP secretary

Theresa May tells LBC that the NHS 'will get an extra £394 million a week'

Theresa May faces another tough day as she battles to cling onto her job after a flurry of ministerial resignations and a growing campaign to unseat her by Conservative MPs unhappy about her Brexit deal.

As No 10 gears up for a potential vote of no confidence, government whips were recalled to Westminster from their constituencies.

Ms May began the morning with a 30-minute phone-in on LBC, where she insisted she would carry on as prime minister and defended the Brexit deal that has infuriated many of her MPs. She was speaking minutes after former culture secretary John Whittingdale became the latest to announce he had submitted a letter of no-confidence in her.

Having lost senior cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Esther McVey, pressure on Ms May was heightened after leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted his letter calling for a vote of no-confidence on Thursday afternoon.

A number of other Tory backbenchers publicly followed suit. If the number of letters hits 48 (15 per cent of the parliamentary party) Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, will automatically trigger a confidence vote in Ms May.

There is growing speculation of further cabinet resignations, with Michael Gove considering whether he should step down after apparently refusing to take the Brexit secretary job.

Mr Gove is believed to have demanded that Ms May’s draft agreement is renegotiated and for the 25 November summit with the EU to be cancelled.

Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, is also thought to be still considering quitting and met with Ms May yesterday to discuss.

Key Points

• Government whips recalled to Westminster amid speculation of imminent no-confidence vote
• May tells LBC phone-in she will fight on as P<Mand that insulin to treat her diabetes comes from the EU
• Prime minister denies being 'modern day Neville Chamberlain'
• Key Commons committee dismisses government plan for giving MP 'meaningful vote'

[16 November 2018 19:56 · Harriet Agerholm]

That's all for today from us. Thanks for reading,