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Ruth Davidson backs Theresa May ahead of confidence vote Ruth Davidson backs Theresa May ahead of confidence vote
(about 1 hour later)
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson says Theresa May has her "full support" ahead of a vote on the prime minister's future. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson gave her "full support" to Theresa May ahead of the prime minister winning a vote on her future.
Ms Davidson, who is on maternity leave after giving birth in October, tweeted that Mrs May has "cojones of steel".Ms Davidson, who is on maternity leave after giving birth in October, tweeted that Mrs May has "cojones of steel".
Eleven of her 13 Scottish Conservative MPs - including Scottish Secretary David Mundell - have said they will back the prime minister in the confidence vote. Eleven of her 13 Scottish Tory MPs - including Scottish Secretary David Mundell - said they would back the prime minister in the confidence vote.
Mr Mundell said he was confident Mrs May would win and continue in the job. Mrs May won the vote by 200 to 117 on Wednesday evening.
Ahead of the vote on Wednesday evening, Mrs May told her MPs she would not lead the party into the next general election in 2022. The result was greeted by cheers and applause from Tory MPs as it was announced by backbench Tory chairman Sir Graham Brady.
But leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg immediately said it was a "terrible result" for the prime minister and suggested she should now consider her position.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said the margin of victory, with 117 MPs voting against her, was "not at all comfortable" for the PM and a "real blow" to her authority.
Ahead of the ballot, Mrs May told her MPs she would not lead the party into the next general election in 2022.
Opponents of the prime minister are angry at the Brexit deal she has struck, which they argue will keep the UK tied to the EU indefinitely with no say over its rules and unable to strike trade deals around the world.Opponents of the prime minister are angry at the Brexit deal she has struck, which they argue will keep the UK tied to the EU indefinitely with no say over its rules and unable to strike trade deals around the world.
Anger has focused on the so-called "backstop" to prevent the return of a physical border in Northern Ireland.Anger has focused on the so-called "backstop" to prevent the return of a physical border in Northern Ireland.
Mr Mundell said the vote would allow the prime minister's critics to "have their moment" but that "after the vote has taken place and the prime minister is shown to have the confidence of a majority of MPs we will have to get back to the business of delivering Brexit." Ahead of the result being announced, Mr Mundell said the vote would allow the prime minister's critics to "have their moment" but that "after the vote has taken place and the prime minister is shown to have the confidence of a majority of MPs we will have to get back to the business of delivering Brexit."
Mr Mundell added: "The reality is we're leaving the EU - we needed to get a deal, we've got a deal, it's the best deal available.Mr Mundell added: "The reality is we're leaving the EU - we needed to get a deal, we've got a deal, it's the best deal available.
"Just because you don't like things doesn't make them go away.""Just because you don't like things doesn't make them go away."
The position of the two other Scottish Conservative MPs - Ross Thomson and Douglas Ross - is not yet known. They have both been critical of Mrs May's Brexit deal in the past. The position of two other Scottish Conservative MPs - Ross Thomson and Douglas Ross - was not known before the vote, but both have been critical of Mrs May's Brexit deal in the past.
Another MP - John Lamont - had initially said he could not comment ahead of the vote as he is member of the executive of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives.Another MP - John Lamont - had initially said he could not comment ahead of the vote as he is member of the executive of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives.
But he later tweeted that he actually was allowed to comment, and was therefore "delighted to confirm my support for the Prime Minister tonight".But he later tweeted that he actually was allowed to comment, and was therefore "delighted to confirm my support for the Prime Minister tonight".
The confidence vote on Mrs May's leadership was triggered when the required 48 letters calling for a contest were delivered.The confidence vote on Mrs May's leadership was triggered when the required 48 letters calling for a contest were delivered.
Conservative MPs voted until 20:00 on Wednesday, with the result expected within the next hour or so. Mrs May needs to win a majority of the votes in order to continue as leader. Mrs May needed to win a majority of the votes in order to continue as leader.
She has said she will contest the vote "with everything I have got", and has warned that a new prime minister would have to scrap or extend Article 50, the mechanism taking Britain out of the EU on 29 March. Mrs May said this would delay or even stop Brexit. She had pledged to contest the vote "with everything I have got", and warned that a new prime minister would have to scrap or extend Article 50, the mechanism taking Britain out of the EU on 29 March. Mrs May said this would delay or even stop Brexit.
Losing the vote would trigger a Conservative leadership contest in which she could not stand. Losing the vote would have triggered a Conservative leadership contest in which she could not stand.
There is also an option that even if Mrs May wins - but not overwhelmingly - she may decide to stand down.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street on Wednesday morning, Mrs May said changing Conservative leader would "put our country's future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it".Speaking outside 10 Downing Street on Wednesday morning, Mrs May said changing Conservative leader would "put our country's future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it".
She was later greeted with cheers from the Tory benches when she arrived in the Commons for prime minister's questions.She was later greeted with cheers from the Tory benches when she arrived in the Commons for prime minister's questions.
BBC research suggests Mrs May will secure the votes of the 158 MPs she needs to survive, but it is a secret ballot so the final outcome is hard to predict.
Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, tweeted that the vote on Mrs May's future was a "stark reminder that the UK is facing chaos and crisis entirely because of a vicious civil war within the Tory party."Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, tweeted that the vote on Mrs May's future was a "stark reminder that the UK is facing chaos and crisis entirely because of a vicious civil war within the Tory party."
She added: "What a self-centred bunch they are. They all need to go, not just the PM."She added: "What a self-centred bunch they are. They all need to go, not just the PM."