SIR Graham Brady has received enough letters from colleagues to trigger a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the MP for Altrincham and Sale West has revealed.

The MP, who is also the chairman of the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee, confirmed he has received at least 54 letters this morning (June 6), with a vote to come this evening.

The vote, via a secret ballot, is to take place at Westminster between 6pm and 8pm, with the count to take place afterwards.

If more than 180 MPs oppose Mr Johnson, he will be ousted as Prime Minister and an election for another leader will ensue.

A statement by Sir Graham reads: "The threshold of 15 per cent of the parliamentary party seeking a vote of confidence in the leader of the Conservative Party has been exceeded. In accordance with the rules, a ballot will be held between 6pm and and 8pm today.

"The vote will be counted immediately afterwards. An announcement will be made at a time to be advised. Arrangements for the announcement will be released later today."

The MP later said: "I have followed the rules that we have in place. I notified the Prime Minister [on Sunday] and we agreed a timetable for the vote to take place.

"He shared my view, which is also in line with the rules that we have in place, that the vote should happen as soon as it could reasonably take place, and that would be today."

The vote comes after a series of controversies surrounding Mr Johnson, including Sue Gray's report into breaches of coronavirus restrictions at 10 Downing Street.

But some MPs are also dissatisfied with other issues, such as the state of the economy.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: "Tonight is a chance to end months of speculation and allow the Government to draw a line and move on, delivering on the people's priorities.

"The PM welcomes the opportunity to make his case to MPs and will remind them that when they’re united and focused on the issues that matter to voters, there is no more formidable political force."