The North East's Conservative MPs have remained silent as the pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson grows with the threat of a vote of no confidence vote looming.
Reports have suggested the Tories are close to the 54 letters needed to trigger a leadership challenge against the beleaguered Prime Minister as the Government is rocked by the revelations of Partygate.
It comes after Bury South MP Christian Wakeford defected from the Conservatives to Labour in the run-up to Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, followed by ex- Brexit Secretary David Davis calling on Mr Johnson to resign during PMQs.
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Under the Tory party rules, Conservative MPs trigger a no confidence vote in their leader if 15% write to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee - currently Sir Graham Brady.
With 360 MPs in the parliamentary party, 54 MPs would need to send letters - it is understood that a number of MPs have already sent letters and the Mirror reports the threshold could be reached "in hours".
Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison was reported to be part of a so-called "Pork Pie Plot" to bring down the PM - so-called because of the involvement of Alicia Kearns, MP for Melton Mowbray.
However she appeared to distance herself from the rumours on Twitter by saying she had "always preferred sausage rolls".
When contacted by the Chronicle about whether they would support the Prime Minister or a vote of no confidence, just one of the North East's Conservative MPs provided a comment.
The MPs approached were:
- Guy Opperman, MP for Hexham
- Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick
- Ian Levy, MP for Blyth Valley
- Dehenna Davison, MP for Bishop Auckland
- Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham
- Paul Howell, MP for Segefield
Mr Levy was the only MP to respond. He said: "I understand the comments, concerns and anger of Blyth Valley residents and it’s right that an enquiry is being carried out by Sue Gray.
"Waiting for the inquiry is not, on my part, an attempt to avoid the issue, but to ensure that we can be aware of the facts.
"In the meantime I won’t be distracted from the job in hand and I’m going to continue to focus on the main priorities in the Blyth Valley – bringing more and better jobs, improving our infrastructure and dealing with concerns and issues of individual residents.
"I was elected to do that and I remain as focused as ever."
Some of the MPs have already commented on the situation previously.
Blyth Valley MP Mr Levy previously said the public "deserves better" following reports that Downing Street staff partied as the rest of the country, adding that he was unable to see his mother-in-law as she was dying in a nursing home.
Hexham MP Mr Opperman criticised Mr Johnson for attending multiple lockdown drinks parties at Number 10, as he was unable to visit his wife and infant sons in hospital at the same time.
His twin baby boys, Rafe and Teddy sadly died not long afterwards.
However, both said the public should wait for the inquiry headed by Sue Gray to be carried out before a decision on the Prime Minister's future was made.
The sentiment was echoed by Sedgefield MP Paul Howell, who said he was "appalled at the reported behaviour" but added that the enquiry should be completed before "those found to be involved face the appropriate consequences".
Anne Marie Trevelyan tweeted to say the apology made by Mr Johnson during PMQs last week was "needed and heard".
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