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12th Dec 2018

Theresa May promises MPs she won’t stand in next general election

Not sure she'd get that far tbh

Oli Dugmore

Not sure she’d get that far tbh

Theresa May has told her own Conservative MPs she will not stand in the next general election.

The prime minister faces a vote of no confidence in her leadership of the party.

This promise is part of her campaign to secure enough votes to stay at No 10. In addition, the right to vote has been restored to Charlie Elphicke and Andrew Griffith, two MPs previously suspended over accusations of sexual harassment. Desperate times.

May made the pledge to backbenchers as she addressed the 1922 Committee, the sub group of Tory MPs responsible for marshalling a leadership contest which is seen as the weathervane of party sentiment.

At 9pm this evening the result of a confidence vote will be announced. If Theresa May wins she cannot face another such vote for at least a year. If she loses then she cannot stand in the leadership contest, and she will be replaced as head of the party and prime minister.

Boris Johnson is currently the bookies’ favourite to replace her, followed by Dominic Raab and Sajid Javid.

May also said Brexit “will be delayed or stopped” if she is kicked out of No 10.