Westminstenders: Dear Santa for Christmas I'd like...

[RedToothBrush]

The ERG to be the grinch that stole the Tory Party Christmas who ultimately get what they deserve.

To remain in the EU

Donald Trump's impeachment

For politics to be boring again

A trex toy for my son

Dear Santa, please can you:

Send a grown up to revoke A50
Indict Trump and family
Ban Brussels sprouts (the unelected elite of the Christmas dinner table)

Surely if May goes, and Boris or worse replaces her, the Rebel Remainer Tories will give up the whip? Would that be enough to get a vote of no confidence through and a national/unity/ emergency government in?

Ed Vaizey @edvaizey
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

Oh bugger.

On the back of the 1922 committee news:

Please make Ken Clarke leader of the Tories

Surely if May goes, and Boris or worse replaces her, the Rebel Remainer Tories will give up the whip? Would that be enough to get a vote of no confidence through and a national/unity/ emergency government in?

Thats what they have strongly hinted at.

Whether they would do it, remains to be seen.

I can only hope the marginally less stupid Tories squash this pretty quickly this evening and we can get back to stressing about crashing out without Boris Johnson in number 10

Err, CHAIRMAM

Ed Conway @ edconwaysky
Pound cratering as vote of confidence in Theresa May is confirmed. Hits a new 20 month low; briefly drops beneath $1.48 against dollar

Oh shit. Looks like I'm eating bread and water for the rest of my holiday.

Oh fuck.

Place mat King.

Interesting times. PMK.

Labour Whips @ Labourwhips
This is odd, the Deputy Party Chair of the Tory Party, @JamesCleverly has a ten minute rule Bill today (slots controlled by the Whips). Given he’s on the payroll and the Tories are in Govt surely something he could get them to do officially, is this Govt Policy now?

Hmm. This looks like it would act to merge the Dept of International Trade and the Dept of International Development in some way.

Interesting...

Christopher Hope@christopherhope
Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker: "Theresa May’s plan would bring down the government ... But our Party will rightly not tolerate it. Conservatives must answer whether they wish to draw ever closer to an election under Mrs May’s leadership. In the national interest, she must go."

Blimey didn’t expect to hear from Brady quite so early.

If she loses the vote is she gone immediately?

Hits a new 20 month low; briefly drops beneath $1.48 against dollar

It’s just dipped below $1.25 though?

Pippa Crerar@pippacrerar
It’s official - vote of no confidence in Theresa May to be held between 6 and 8pm. Results later tonight. PM needs support of 158 Tory MPs to win. Leadership rivals already jostling. Big day at Westminster.

James Forsyth @jgforsyth
One long time May backbench ally predicts that she’ll win the vote by 200 to 115

Around 110 - 120 is thought to be shaky ground for her even if she wins.

(I'm guessing a split in the party or a GE then possible if she refuses to resign in those circumstances. I think she would hang in even on 157 votes tbh.)

Remember the ERG are around 80 in number.

If she loses the vote is she gone immediately?

Yes.

Starting to wonder if the Leave campaign had this as their plan all along. Shove a remainer out to do the donkey work, shout and squeal that the achieved deal is no good, kick her out, whip up the Leave voters into a frenzy, crash out with no deal. What a day we have in front of us.

Well after the leadership challenge is completed.

James Brokenshire @ jbrokenshire
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.

Laura Kuenssberg @bbclaurak
First cab minister out gates to support her - willl be interesting to see how many quickly follow , or not

Brokenshire one of her most loyal supporters

Evan Davis @ evanhd
Hard to see Tories sticking together under May if she wins tonight. Hard to see them sticking together under a brexiteer appointed by the membership. Limited options that keep party in tact.

Unbelievable! The Tories really are determined to render themselves permanently unelectable aren't they?

The Tory Party Splitting might sound great. But be careful what you wish for.

It might be Ukip 2 with Boris in charge.

*One long time May backbench ally predicts that she’ll win the vote by 200 to 115

Around 110 - 120 is thought to be shaky ground for her even if she wins.*

Don’t understand this if she wins the first vote then doesn’t she get to stay for the next 12 months ? Which would at least stop a no deal brext supporter getting in?

Andrew Neil @afneil
^Mrs May needs win by only one to remain Tory leader. And that might be her intention. But if her victory is narrow many in cabinet will urge her still to go.
If she loses, the contest for new Tory leader begins. She can’t stand.^