A North East Conservative MP has submitted a letter of no confidence in Liz Truss.

Hartlepool MP Jill Mortimer said she was 'left with no choice' but to submit a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister after the 'deteriorating situation' throughout the day.

In the letter, Ms Mortimer, who was elected last summer at the height of the Tories success in the North East, said she had 'no confidence in the competence of the current Prime Minister Liz Truss'

The Northern Echo:

In a statement on Facebook, she wrote: "Yesterday, I tried to get called in PMQs to ask Liz Truss for an assurance of support for our Town and our promises.

"Sadly I was not called and the deteriorating situation throughout the day left me with no choice but to submit a Letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister to Sir Graham Brady."

Ms Mortimer's victory in May 2021 sent shockwaves through the political world after she turned the seat blue for the first time since its formation in 1974 with a near 7,000 vote majority and 16 per cent swing.

It comes as Ms Truss has met the senior Conservative responsible for establishing whether she commands the confidence of her MPs as she battles an open revolt after a calamitous 24 hours.

Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister invited Sir Graham Brady, the powerful chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers, to No 10 in a hastily-arranged meeting on Thursday.

One person in No 10 said Ms Truss was “taking the temperature” of Tory MPs with Sir Graham after the number publicly demanding her resignation doubled within just a couple of hours to a dozen after the chaotic scenes in the Commons that followed the loss of a Cabinet minister.

As Conservatives wondered how long she would remain in power, Ms Truss acknowledged a “difficult day” in her premiership but insisted she wants to push on, her official spokesman said.

He was briefing journalists as Sir Graham was seen entering No 10 through a back door and was unaware the meeting had been arranged. Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey was also seen going in.

“The Prime Minister acknowledges yesterday was a difficult day and she recognises the public wanted to see the Government focussing less on politics and more on delivering their priorities,” the official said.

“That is also what the Prime Minister wants.”