AN MP has stood by his decision to call for a vote of no-confidence in the Prime Minister after the bid to oust her as party leader fell flat.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, Harwich and North Essex MP, was one of 48 Conservatives who wrote in letters, which prompted the vote on Wednesday night.

It came after unrest in the party and opposition following the postponement of a Brexit deal vote earlier in the week.

Sir Bernard said: “I put my letter in privately, but it has been clear to me for some time that our present Prime Minister can’t carry the confidence of the House of Commons with her EU policy.

“Also, being a minority government without the support of at least one opposition party we can’t govern so I thought it was imperative we change tact and change leader.

“I think Brexit has been made more difficult by a Prime Minister obviously very uninterested about Brexit.

“It would be better to have a more enthusiastic Prime Minister who believes in the prosperity, future and resilience of our great country.”

Theresa May won the ballot of Conservative MPs on whether she should remain their party leader, by 200 votes to 117.

But in a last-minute pre-vote move, she offered a promise to her MPs that she would step down before the next election, which is due in 2022.

Sir Bernard added: “The vote has exposed the weakness of her support.”

For more about possible Brexit chaos see page 9