SWINDON MPs have backed embattled prime minister Theresa May, who faces a crunch vote of no confidence.

Enough Tory MPs have requested a vote of no confidence in Theresa May to trigger a contest, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee has announced.

Sir Graham Brady said the threshold of 48 letters – 15 per cent of the parliamentary party – needed to trigger a vote has been reached and a ballot will be held between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday evening in the House of Commons.

“The votes will be counted immediately afterwards and an announcement will be made as soon as possible in the evening,” he said.

Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson, both government ministers, say they are supporting May.

South Swindon MP Mr Buckland dismissed the bid to oust the prime minister as “self-indulgent nonsense and shenanigans”.

He said: “This is a complete diversion. The prime minister has gone out to do her very best to achieve a deal that can win the support of parliament. Now is not the time for this sort of self-indulgent nonsense and shenanigans.”

Mr Tomlinson, North Swindon MP, said he was completely supporting May.

"The prime minister has been relentless in seeking to deliver Brexit, with parliamentary numbers stacked to try to frustrate, delay and block," he added. 

"She has remained focused, determined and courteous throughout. I will be 100 per cent backing the prime minister tonight."

However, speaking on BBC Wiltshire this morning North Swindon MP James Gray struck a different tone.

Calling the vote of no confidence bid a shot across the prime minister’s bows, he slammed her Brexit deal: “The deal she came back with is…the wrong deal. It won’t get through parliament and overall it does not have the support of the Northern Irish [MPs].”

Speaking on the steps of Number 10 this morning, Theresa May vowed to fight the no confidence vote.

"I stand ready to finish the job [of Brexit]," she told reporters.