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Theresa May faced mounting pressure over her job amid claims Boris Johnson is plotting a leadership bid and being urged by Cabinet members to challenge the Prime Minister.

Downing Street was continuing talks with the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party over a possible deal with support a Conservative minority government as the PM looks to secure her position in Number 10.

An ally of Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson was reported in the Mail on Sunday as saying it was “go-go-go” for a leadership push in a bid to oust Mrs May.

Mr Johnson dismissed the reports as “tripe”, but was said to have been pressed by five members of the Cabinet to launch a challenge to Mrs May after her disastrous election campaign.

Discussions between senior Tories and the socially hardline DUP were set to continue in a bid to secure a “confidence and supply” deal for the Northern Irish party to use their 10 Commons seats to help Mrs May govern. It would mean the DUP backing the Government on its Budget and confidence motions, but could potentially lead to other issues being decided on a vote-by-vote basis.

There was confusion over the status of the deal overnight after Number 10 had said it was agreed in principle, but was contradicted by the DUP which said an agreement was yet to be finalised. Sky News reported that Downing Street had issued its earlier statement in error.

In a statement issued at midnight, the DUP said: “The DUP held discussions with representatives of the Conservative Party in line with [party leader] Arlene Foster's commitment to explore how we might bring stability to the nation at this time of great challenge.

"The talks so far have been positive."

Within the space of an hour, Downing Street issued another statement saying details would be presented by both parties “as and when” they were finalised.

The statement added: “We will welcome any such deal being agreed, as it will provide the stability and certainty the whole country requires as we embark on Brexit and beyond.”

Mrs May needs to shore up her position in Parliament because the Queen's Speech setting out the Government's programme is due on June 19, with a highly significant vote on its content expected after a few days' debate.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn insisted "I can still be Prime Minister" as he vowed to oppose the legislative programme.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Mr Corbyn added: "This is still on. Absolutely".

Mrs May's position looked insecure amid disquiet within the Tory party and reports of manouvering by Mr Johnson's supporters.

One ally told the Sunday Times: "We are facing a populist and they have realised we need someone who can talk to the people.

Protest outside Downing Street against DUP alliance 12 show all Protest outside Downing Street against DUP alliance 1/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-1 Protesters gather at parliament Square AP 2/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-2 A woman holds a sign protesting Theresa may's minority government AP 3/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-3 Protesters march towards Downing Street AP 4/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-4 People protested the DUP's hardline stance on social issues AP 5/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-5 The group Stand Up To Racism joined the demonstration Getty Images 6/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-6 Protesters chanting outside Street Getty Images 7/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-7 People hold placards in Parliament Square EPA 8/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-8 Police line up alongside protesters outside Downing Street Getty Images 9/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-9 A man protesting Theresa May's new government Getty Images 10/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-10 People held signs reading "Corbyn In, Tories Out" AP 11/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-11 People held signs in support of Labour leader jeremy Corbyn AP 12/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-12 Protesters chant outside Downing Street AP 1/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-1 Protesters gather at parliament Square AP 2/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-2 A woman holds a sign protesting Theresa may's minority government AP 3/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-3 Protesters march towards Downing Street AP 4/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-4 People protested the DUP's hardline stance on social issues AP 5/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-5 The group Stand Up To Racism joined the demonstration Getty Images 6/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-6 Protesters chanting outside Street Getty Images 7/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-7 People hold placards in Parliament Square EPA 8/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-8 Police line up alongside protesters outside Downing Street Getty Images 9/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-9 A man protesting Theresa May's new government Getty Images 10/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-10 People held signs reading "Corbyn In, Tories Out" AP 11/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-11 People held signs in support of Labour leader jeremy Corbyn AP 12/12 Downing-street-DUP-protest-12 Protesters chant outside Downing Street AP

"We need a Brexiteer. Boris is the only option with the liberal values, Brexit credentials and popular appeal."

The reports came after Mrs May’s two closest aides, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, resigned from their posts as the fallout from the election campaign continued.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who oversaw a strong Conservative showing north of the border, indicated she wanted to see a fresh approach to Brexit by seeking a consensus across parties.

Ms Davidson, who wields considerable influence after the Scottish Conservatives won 13 seats, said: "I want to ensure that we can look again at issues like Brexit which we know we are now going to have to get cross-party support for.

"And move to a consensus within the country about what it means and what we seek to achieve as we leave."

In a hint at the approach she wanted, she said: "It is about making sure that we put free trade at the heart of what it is we seek to achieve as we leave."