Conservative Party members have pushed for a vote of no confidence in one of their MPs – according to Guido Fawkes.

The political blog claims to have seen a petition against South West Hertfordshire MP David Gauke with the requisite 50 signatures to force a confidence vote.

South West Hertfordshire Conservative Association group leaders are said to have met with Mr Gauke over the weekend hoping to change his mind on ruling out a no-deal Brexit.

Instead, they came away feeling the MP “will never be in favour of anything other than a customs union” – according to the Guido Fawkes website.

Mr Gauke’s parliamentary office confirmed such a petition was in circulation.

The South West Hertfordshire Conservative Association were unable to comment.

The political donor and Leave.EU campaign co-founder Arron Banks took to Twitter yesterday afternoon shortly after the story broke, in seemingly jubilant triumph over Mr Gauke's possible deselection.

In response, Mr Gauke said: "I became aware in recent days that a petition was being circulated amongst some South West Hertfordshire Conservative Association members calling for a Special General Meeting for the purposes of passing a no confidence motion in me on the grounds of my position on Brexit.

"In response, I requested a meeting with those instigating the petition. This meeting was held on Saturday. I had not previously met either of the gentlemen behind the petition - both had only joined the Conservative Party in recent weeks.

"They made it clear to me that they would seek to pass a no confidence unless I publicly retracted my concerns about the consequences of a no deal Brexit. I told them that, given the evidence both in the public domain and provided to the Cabinet of the detrimental impact of a no-deal Brexit, I was not prepared to do so.

"I do not know how many party members have signed the petition but if such a meeting is called, I will vigorously defend my position."