John Bercow faces a motion of no confidence after furious Tory MPs launched a bid to oust the Commons Speaker over his refusal to let Donald Trump address Parliament.

Tory MP James Duddridge tabled the motion tonight, branding Mr Bercow's attempt to interfere in President Trump's state visit 'wholly inappropriate'.

It signals the growing anger in the Commons at the Speaker's behaviour and could cost him his powerful job.

Earlier this week Mr Bercow dismissed calls to quit following his outburst against the controversial US President, who he branded 'racist' and 'sexist' in an extraordinary rant.

John Bercow is to face a motion of no confidence after furious Tory MPs launched a bid to oust the Commons Speaker over his refusal to let Donald Trump address Parliament

Mr Bercow told MPs that President Trump should not be allowed to address Parliament on his state visit to Britain later this year, insisting such a privilege is 'an earned honour'.

He faced an immediate backlash from Tory MPs and Mr Duddridge, a former minister, said he expects a growing number of dissatisfied colleagues to add their names calling for him to go over the next 10 days while the Commons is in recess.

But as of yet his Early Day Motion only has one signature - his - and it is unlikely to succeed in being debated by MPs.

He is hoping a similar process happens as in 2009, when Douglas Carswell tabled a motion of no confidence in the then Speaker Michael Martin. It attracted 22 signatures and later that day he announced his resignation.

He believes the increasing opposition to Mr Bercow will make his position as Speaker 'untenable' and said he could even be forced out before MPs return to Westminster on February 20.

Mr Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, told Sky News: 'He has overstepped the mark, he has overstepped the mark a number of times but this most recent incident - where he used the Speaker's chair to pronounce his views on an international situation in some quite detailed and lengthy manner is wholly inappropriate and it means that he can no longer reasonably chair, as Speaker, any debate on those subjects.

Tory MP James Duddridge, pictured on Sky News tonight, tabled the motion tonight, branding Mr Bercow's attempt to interfere in President Trump's state visit 'wholly inappropriate'

'This has been happening more and more often from this modernising Speaker.

'This is perhaps the straw that has broken the camel's back.'

Mr Duddridge said he had been 'amazed' at the number of people who had encouraged him to table the motion.

WILL THE MOTION SUCCEED IN KICKING BERCOW OUT? Tory MP James Duddridge's Early Day Motion has only one signature - his - so it is unlikely to succeed in being debated by MPs. He is hoping a similar process happens as in 2009, when Douglas Carswell tabled a motion of no confidence in the then Speaker Michael Martin. It attracted 22 signatures and later that day he announced his resignation. Mr Duddridge hopes that by increasing the pressure on Mr Bercow, the Speaker will also decide it is time to step down from his powerful role. Advertisement

The House of Commons returns on February 20 and Mr Duddridge said: 'He doesn't really understand the degree of the anger in the House of Commons, the distrust in his role as Speaker of the House of Commons and I expect over the recess - because Parliament now shuts down for one week - over that week the number of MPs speaking out either publicly or privately to journalists will increase and increase and it will be known his position is untenable, perhaps even to the point that he doesn't return on the Monday.'

He wrote to Theresa May earlier this week requesting that ministers are given a free vote in any potential vote designed to topple Mr Bercow.

On Monday in the Commons, Mr Bercow appeared to brand the US president 'racist' and 'sexist' and said Mr Trump's travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries meant he was 'even more strongly' opposed to an invitation.

Earlier this week Mr Bercow dismissed calls to quit following his outburst against President Trump, pictured with wife Melania, who he branded 'racist' and 'sexist' in a rant in Parliament

He was applauded by some MPs on making the intervention but his move irritated several Tories and also caused a clash with the Speaker in the House of Lords - Lord Fowler, who vowed to keep an 'open mind' about Mr Trump addressing Parliament.

But Mr Bercow received support from Labour in the Commons earlier, with the Opposition urging ministers to reject calls for a vote of no confidence.

Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz urged her opposite number to 'confirm that the Government will not support any attempts to act on the letter to the Prime Minister about comments made on a point of order in this chamber'.

Commons Leader David Lidington did not respond to the question about the Speaker but said the Government had to deal with the US president as he was democratically elected, despite strong feelings on the matter.

He said: 'Whatever view any of us as individuals might have on any particular leader of another country, the reality is that governments have to deal with other governments in the world as they exist and particularly with elected governments who are able to claim a mandate from their own people.'

Mr Lidington told MPs there was no challenge to the legitimacy of the US election, despite the 'bitterness' of the campaign.