Christmas coup? Sajid Javid attacks Theresa May as she’s threatened with no-confidence vote by Tory MPs As the Conservative Party was gripped by a new bout of in-fighting, Sajid Javid detailed his political philosophy

BREAKING NEWS: Conservative party triggers vote of no confidence in Theresa May

Theresa May is facing an attempt by Conservative critics of her Brexit deal to oust her from Downing Street by Christmas as the party is gripped by in-fighting over her Brexit strategy.

Her opponents claim to have handed the 48 letters required to trigger a vote of no confidence in her leadership to Sir Graham Brady, who represents Tory backbenchers.

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In an ominous development for Mrs May, it was reported that Sir Graham, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of MPs, had asked to meet her this afternoon after Prime Minister’s Questions.

One Cabinet minister told i: “It would be madness to try to get rid of her at this moment.”

The feverish atmosphere at Westminster coincided with a potential leadership contender, Sajid Javid, detailing his political philosophy and speaking of his humble background in a wide-ranging interview.

The Home Secretary also took a swipe at current immigration policy under Mrs May, protesting that it had become about “bringing numbers down and nothing else”.

Tory MPs turn

MPs reported that Boris Johnson – sporting a new hairstyle and having lost weight in recent weeks – had been spotted “working the tearoom” at the Commons.

The Prime Minister’s future has been thrown into fresh doubt following her decision to delay the “meaningful vote” which had been due to take place Tuesday night on her Brexit deal with Brussels.

Several Conservatives said new letters expressing no confidence in her had been submitted to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, since her announcement.

They include the former minister Crispin Blunt who said: “I want to encourage those who are thinking about it – get it done.”

‘Mood shift’

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said he detected a “mood shift” within the party.

“People who wouldn’t have put letters in are openly saying ‘my letter is going in’, which doesn’t bode well for Theresa May or the government,” he told ITV News.

But the former minister George Freeman tweeted: “To any Colleagues thinking of signing their letter to Mr Brady to trigger a Leadership Election, I beg you not to. The country would never forgive us.”

To any Colleagues thinking of signing their letter to Mr. Brady to trigger a Leadership Election, I beg you not to. The country would never forgive us. If the PM is out of runway, we should have a Caretaker Prime Minister until a Leadership Election in May. pic.twitter.com/JeoX2eZctb — George Freeman MP (@GeorgeFreemanMP) December 11, 2018

Sajid Javid pitch

In an interview with the Spectator, Mr Javid appeared to set out his stall for an eventual leadership bid, arguing that he wanted the Tories to be the party of social mobility.

He said: “I want Britain to be that kind of opportunity society where the government is your friend, working with you, enabling. Rather than holding you back, intentionally or not.”

Mr Javid argued that voters wanted to “to see politicians that they can relate to; that they think are authentic; that – therefore – can be straight and honest with them”.

I want Britain to be that kind of opportunity society where the government is your friend, working with you, enabling Sajid Javid

He said immigration had depressed salaries and deterred companies from investing in people.

He argued Brexit would give the UK the ability to set an immigration policy in terms of the national interest only, adding: “Personally I think that is far more important than someone saying: our immigration policy is about bringing numbers down, and nothing else.”

EXPLAINER: What is a no-confidence vote?