With just a few moments to go until voting closes, 181 Tory MPs have publicly backed Theresa May in the vote of confidence. Given that May needs 159 votes, their support should be enough to keep her position safe. But given that this is a secret ballot, are they as good as their word? Here is the full list of those who have vowed to back the PM:
Bim Afolami:
I’ll be supporting the PM tonight. It’s a tough job, the toughest possible right now, and she has my full support in securing our departure from the EU @theresa_may@WindsorTories
Utterly dismayed at the sheer indulgence being shown by some of my parliamentary colleagues at this time of National crisis. Quite why they think a change in leader is the right course of action is beyond me.
Stuart Andrew
Ed Argar
Victoria Atkins
Kemi Badenoch
Steve Barclay:
I fully support the PM. This is a crucial stage with weeks to go before we leave the EU. We need to back @theresa_may and deliver the referendum result. The PM is working in our national interest and this distraction risks damaging uncertainty.
What a ridiculous moment to choose to challenge @10DowningStreet – Theresa May has been working flat out to secure the best possible deal and will have my vote again this evening #TM4PM
This party has always been at its best when moderate, mainstream, compassionate & governing in the national interest. That's the party I joined & am proud to represent. And in @theresa_may I'm proud to have a leader that shares those values. She has my full and unwavering support
I will be supporting the Prime Minister in tonight’s confidence vote. This is about the national interest not personalities and naked ambition. Theresa May has the most difficult job imaginable and I think, whatever your view of Brexit, this is a time to stand together.
Strongly support @theresa_may to continue as Leader of @Conservatives and Prime Minister. Now is not the time for this distraction and even more uncertainty. We need to get behind the Prime Minister in the best interests of our country.
I am giving my full support to @theresa_may who has always put the national interest first. We need to honour the outcome of the referendum and support the PM to deliver Brexit on 29 March 2019.
James Cartlidge
Alberto Costa
Alex Chalk
Jo Churchill:
I will be supporting @theresa_may in tonight’s vote. This is a distraction from delivering on the result of the referendum and is against our country’s interests.
Clearly I’m disappointed that some in my party have triggered a vote of no confidence just as the PM is having a series of international meetings to deliver Brexit.
I will, of course, be voting in support of Theresa May.
I will vote for change tonight. The EU negotiations are horribly off course and do not command support in Parliament. The policy is inextricable from the person of the Prime Minister, and the stakes are simply too high for endless deferral.
I shall be supporting the Prime Minister this evening. This is no time for the self indulgent spasm of a leadership election. Nothing fundamental will be altered by it. This is a time to show loyalty and discipline in supporting the PM in discharging the duties of government.
MPs trying to oust Prime Minister are in danger of badly misjudging the mood of the country. It is a reckless course which does nothing to make Brexit easier to deliver. I will back Theresa May this evening
The PM has my 100% support as leader of @Conservatives She is a tenacious public servant doing her best to deliver #Brexit in very difficult circumstances – let’s help her get on with it! #TheresaMay
@theresa_may has my full support. THIS Prime Minisiter and THIS Withdrawal Agreement is still our best option for delivering the best Brexit outcome. Other options (no deal, delayed/cancelled Brexit) will not deliver on the referendum result in the national interest.
For the sake of country, Government and Party I urge all my fellow Conservative MPs to vote for Theresa May this evening. Changing the PM at this critical moment in history would be a massive mistake. Stick with her and let’s see it through!
— Baroness Foster DBE #FreeTheHostages🇮🇱❤️ (@jfoster2019) December 12, 2018
Kevin Foster:
Vicky Ford:
Thank you very much to everyone who has emailed me this morning asking that I support Theresa May. I will be doing so. I’m very boring and very conservative. I don’t believe the country needs the added uncertainty of a change of PM at this challenging time.
I will support the Prime Minister @theresa_may tonight. This is a totally inappropriate time to have a contest. The country expects us to provide stability not damaging division.
This is madness. We are in the final stages of negotiating to implement Brexit w a deadline in January. It’s no time to indulge in a 2 month Party Leadership contest. I’ll support the PM to get Withdrawal thru the House & then she should stand aside in the summer for a new Leader https://t.co/ctlBkp1iad
A few Yorkshire Tories I've spoken to already saying they'll back the PM. Scarborough MP Robert Goodwill says he's "100 per cent" behind May, while Stuart Andrew (a Minister) and Alec Shelbrooke (party vice-chairman) also back her. @yorkshirepost
I am backing the Prime Minister 100% – and I urge every Conservative MP to do the same. She is battling hard for our country and no one is better placed to ensure we deliver on the British people’s decision to leave the EU.
Theresa May has my absolute confidence as Prime Minister and Leader of the Party. Changing leader at this crucial point would be a huge mistake for the country and the Conservative Party.
Now is not the time for leadership challenges – it is time to support the PM as she seeks to secure the best possible deal to honour the outcome of the referendum and safeguard jobs in this country. The PM has proved her resilience and she will do so again today.
Bill Grant
Luke Graham
Richard Graham
Helen Grant
Chris Grayling
Damian Green
Sam Gyimah:
The country is divided. Parliament is in deadlock. That was the case yesterday, and is still the case today – this flows directly from the fact that we have a hung parliament. Changing leader will not address this real and pressing issue with Brexit – this should be our focus.
I will be supporting the Prime Minister. She is focusing on delivering Brexit and has a plan to leave the EU on 29 March. This is an unnecessary distraction and I look forward to @theresa_may refreshing her mandate later today
Rob Halfon
Kirstene Hair
Simon Hart
Philip Hammond:
The Prime Minister has worked hard in the National interest since the day she took office and will have my full support in the vote tonight. Her deal means we leave the EU on time, whist protecting our jobs and our businesses.
Any colleague who believes changing our leader during the negotiations is in our country's interest should think again. I will be supporting the Prime Minister tonight.
The Prime Minister @theresa_may has my full support. I have always said that she is the best person for the country and the Conservative Party. Her deal with the EU is what we need to protect jobs, security and the economy. Tonight I will be backing her 🗳
Peter Heaton-Jones
Chris Heaton-Harris
James Heappey
Gordon Henderson:
Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson tells @BBCRADIOKENT: "I will be supporting the PM. I had already made my mind up to do that before her speech and I am even more determined to support her now."
I shall be backing the Prime Minister @theresa_may in the vote this evening. She is an honourable public servant who has served her country with great dignity. A leadership contest now would be a complete distraction. https://t.co/lYNtxxwvcQ
I am backing @theresa_may tonight. Being PM most difficult job imaginable right 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 29
Let’s all get behind @Theresa_May to complete the job on brexit and keep on delivering on jobs & growth and tackling injustices. A leadership challenge does nothing to secure brexit, and is the last thing our country, or the party, needs at this critical time.
The last thing our country needs right now is a Conservative Party leadership election. Will be seen as self-indulgent and wrong. PM has my full support and is best person to ensure we leave EU on 29 March
Gareth Johnson
Margot James
Robert Jenrick
Marcus Jones:
I'm backing the Prime Minister tonight.Selecting a replacement would give us no time to do the final Brexit leg. V little time to re-negotiate. And no one coming in would change the dynamic in Parliament. I want to deliver Brexit, changing would play into the hands of second Ref.
I will be supporting the PM in tonight’s confidence vote. The PM has shown determined and resilient leadership. We are in complex and difficult negotiations and in the middle of that we do not need further instability. I hope and expect the PM will win and win well.
Any deal to leave the EU includes elements of risk, article 50 is designed that way. This is the lowest risk approach to Brexit and whilst not perfect it is workable in my view which is why many businesses, farmers and fishing orgs are backing it #BacktheBrexitDealhttps://t.co/7OaQBnKkQZ
Stephen Kerr
Julian Knight
Kwasi Kwarteng
John Lamont
Mark Lancaster:
I will be backing @theresa_may tonight. The last thing the country needs ahead of our departure from the EU on the 29th March is a long leadership contest.
I fully back our Prime Minister. We have the right Leader of our Party, we have a duty to deliver for our country & I hope all my colleagues will join me & support @theresa_may to deliver for UK.
The ‘silent majority’ are finding their voice. Scores of emails from #Bexhill#Battle constituents asking me to support our PM @theresa_may. I certainly will be and always have. This one sums it up well….. pic.twitter.com/oDA6WpgVNm
The Prime Minister has my full support, not least because she has always done what she firmly believes is in the national interest. Our country needs us all to fight for a good deal and prepare for a no deal senario. All eyes and hands should be on that task.
The PM has my full support. Brexit was never going to be easy and we need to back her to deliver on that and our domestic programme. Being PM is a phenomenally difficult job and she is the best person for it.
The PM has shown astonishing courage and resilience over many months in the most difficult possible circumstances. I will be supporting her without hesitation this evening. A leadership election would be utter folly.
I will be supporting the Prime Minister tonight. To indulge in a leadership contest now is completely wrong. The #PM@theresa_may is giving everything for this country + continues to work with immense integrity, grit and determination. 1/
Mark Pawsey (retweeted a message of support for the PM)
Chris Pincher
Rebecca Pow:
Now is not the time to change leader. I will be supporting the PM. Consensus from my constituency is also calling for this @BBCWorldatOne@Peston@adamboultonSKY
Inundated with messages of support for the #PM from my constituents this morning. Now is not the time for change. @theresa_may has my full support. @Conservatives
For the avoidance of doubt, I will be supporting the PM tonight. We are less than four months away from leaving the EU and our country requires certainty. This is the UK’s future, more important than one Party.
Strongly suspect that @10DowningStreet will win tonight. Vote timing ill-thought out. Colleagues need to be more clear-headed please. This helps neither unity nor Brexit. At this rate we're driving towards a Judy Garland Brexit – i.e. one that's already Somewhere Over The Rainbow
.@ OwenPaterson there’s no technology to avoid #hardborder & new leader wldnt change reality of need for a back stop. Removing @theresa_may#PM at this most critical of times is grossly irresponsible. You & ERG should be ashamed of yourselves. You’re an embarrassment @BBCr4today
107 days until we leave the EU. The PM has worked unbelievably hard to deliver a deal that reflects the nature of the referendum result, she deserves immense credit and our support. Will be backing her completely. Those contemplating otherwise, just think how bad this looks
I shall support the Prime Minister in the Vote of Confidence tonight against this idiotic challenge at such a desperately serious time for the Country #manupgrowupgetrealdoourduty
@theresa_may continues to work with immense integrity to avoid the polarising dangers of no-deal/no-Brexit. And I will of course be voting for her tonight.
I will support the Prime Minister @theresa_may tonight. A leadership contest is a distraction and doesn’t change the maths in Parliament. We should be focused on delivering on the British people’s decision to leave the EU.
I will be backing Theresa May today. This is not the time for a challenge. Hopefully she will win and we can press on to deliver the Brexit, sensible Brexit, that my constituents voted for.
The PM has been relentless in seeking to deliver Brexit, with Parliamentary numbers stacked to try to frustrate, delay & block. She has remained focused, determined & courteous throughout. I will be 100% backing the PM 🗳
I fully support the Prime Minister and believe it would be completely wrong to have a leadership election now. She is the right person to deliver Brexit and has shown herself to be strong and determined.
Email just arrived from Graham Brady, vote tonight on PM’s leadership, between 6 and 8pm. I will be supporting the PM, we don’t need a self indulgent leadership election at this time
The Prime Minister has my full support. She works relentlessly hard for our country and is the best person to make sure we leave the EU on 29 March and continue to deliver our domestic agenda.
On a day of complete madness by a minority of Conservative hardliners, I will be supporting our PM and will work tirelessly today to support her. @theresa_may
— The Rt. Hon. Craig Whittaker MP (@CWhittaker_MP) December 12, 2018
Tonight I’ll vote to support Theresa May, the most steadfast, resilient Prime Minister – today the country deserves better than a self-involved Conservative Party
On a day of complete madness by a minority of Conservative hardliners, I will be supporting our PM and will work tirelessly today to support her. @theresa_may
— The Rt. Hon. Craig Whittaker MP (@CWhittaker_MP) December 12, 2018
Mike Wood
Jeremy Wright
Nadhim Zahawi:
I am backing @theresa_may tonight. We do not need further instability and division. Colleagues need to think of the National interest.
Usually when my tweenage sons ask about relics from my 1990s adolescence – ‘What’s a landline?’ ‘What’s a phone book?’ – we’ll have a good laugh about these obsolete artefacts of the not-so-distant past. But last year when my ten-year-old asked about ‘Immigrant Song’, which he’d heard on the soundtrack to a Marvel movie, and
Tom Goodenough
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