South Swindon's MP appears to have backed Boris Johnson as Tory MPs cast their ballots in a vote of no confidence to decide the Prime Minister's future.
Former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland says he believes it would not be "right" for Johnson's mandate to "end in that way".
Voting is currently underway and will close at 8pm.
Sir Robert cited how the PM had led the Conservatives to an 80-seat majority at the 2019 election and concluded that the party should not "turn inwards".
North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson also expressed his support for Johnson earlier today in a series of tweets.
Sir Robert tweeted: "It is only a couple of years since the PM and the Conservative Party won a big majority at a General Election.
"It is not right that his mandate might be ended in this way. Instead of turning inwards, we have to focus on what matters to the public and get on with the job."
It is only a couple of years since the PM and the Conservative Party won a big majority at a General Election. It is not right that his mandate might be ended in this way. Instead of turning inwards, we have to focus on what matters to the public and get on with the job.
— Robert Buckland (@RobertBuckland) June 6, 2022
If Johnson loses the vote, he will be forced to step down as Prime Minister. He needs 180 of the 359 Conservative MPs to back him to survive.
The chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs Sir Graham Brady announced this morning that he had received 54 letters from MPs saying they didn't have confidence in the PM.
The result will be announced at 9pm.
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