WINCHESTER'S MP has said he will be backing the Prime Minister in tonight's vote of no confidence.

Steve Brine tweeted out his support for Theresa May earlier this morning after she made a statement on the steps of 10 Downing Street.

He said: “I will be supporting the Prime Minister in tonight’s confidence vote. This is about the national interest not personalities and naked ambition.

“Theresa May has the most difficult job imaginable and I think, whatever your view of Brexit, this is a time to stand together.”

The Prime Minister has also received support from Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery. He said: "I will support the Prime Minister in today’s vote without hesitation.

"She has worked tirelessly in incredibly difficult circumstances to secure an EU withdrawal deal that delivers on Brexit – ending free movement, gaining control of our laws and seas and leaving the single market.

"No-one will secure a better deal than the one the Prime Minister has negotiated and a change of leader now will either delay or stop Brexit and makes absolutely no sense.

"We must be clear here: the only alternative is a no-deal Brexit that will harm jobs and livelihoods across this country. That is an option I cannot countenance and the parliamentary party should not either.

"My firm belief is we must unite behind the Prime Minister and support her and this deal otherwise we run the risk of reneging on the referendum we proposed and vowed to honour and, perversely, the very Brexit many in the party want passionately."

Mr Hollingbery had a close working relationship with Mrs May, serving as her Parliamentary Private Secretary from summer 2016 until June 2018, when he was appointed Minister of State for Trade Policy at the Department for International Trade.

The result of the vote will reported by announced at 9pm tonight.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee confirmed the vote shortly before 8am, saying he had received the necessary 48 letters of no confidence from Tory MPs to trigger a ballot on the leadership.