"Many Photos" - Mark Francois demands an unofficial confidence vote in the PM over Brexit talks with Jeremy Corbyn

A senior Tory backbench Brexiteer has demanded Theresa May face a confidence vote by her own MPs before begging EU leaders for a Brexit delay.

Mark Francois said that the Prime Minister should be subjected to an informal 'indicative vote' of confidence that would allow disgruntled MPs 'to demonstrate that they have lost faith in her leadership'.

In a letter to backbench leader Sir Graham Brady the Essex MP said 'we are living in a world gone mad'.

As well as attacking the Prime Minister he also hit out at Brexiteers in her Cabinet who have failed to act even as she seeks a compromise deal with Jeremy Corbyn that could include a customs union.

In the letter to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham, obtained by Sky News, Rayleigh MP Mr Francois said that the party had been let down by the 'officer class' at the top of Government.

'The so-called "eurosceptics" in the Cabinet do nothing (save consume vast quantities of pizza,' he wrote.

Rayleigh MP and former minister Mark Francois (left, today) has been an emotional and outspoken critic of the Prime Minister and efforts to delay Brexit

He said Mrs May (pictured arriving at Downing Street today) should face an informal confidence vote - she cannot face an official vote until December under party rules

'Riven by personal ambition they keep their heads firmly below the parapet, many of them hoping that by "sitting out" this great battle for the destiny of our country, they will somehow inherit the crown.

'They won't. This is because, as a rule of thumb, MPs, let alone our party members, do not generally vote for those they no longer respect.'

Mrs May won an official confidence vote in her leadership last December and under Conservative party rules she cannot officially be challenged for a year.

But the hope of such a letter is that seeing a vast majority of her own MPs wanting her gone will provoke Mrs May into resigning.  

But in his letter, Mr Francois said she must go. Branding Mr Corbyn a 'committed Marxist, a lifelong CND supporter and a man who would quite willingly disarm this country of its defences', he claimed that the Labour leader was 'taking advice on the negotiations from Sinn Fein/IRA'.

Mr Francois sent a three-page letter to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady on Monday demanding action be taken against Theresa May over here leadership

He also wrote: 'The so-called "eurosceptics" in the Cabinet do nothing (save consume vast quantities of pizza'

Mr Francois ended with a personal plea: 'We simply cannot go on like this, with a weak leader, a riven Cabinet and a party in despair'

'And if she will not do this then I must ask that you and your colleagues on the executive of the 1922 committee establish an informal "indicative vote" of confidence in the Prime Minister, immediately prior to this Wednesday's meeting of the committee, so that colleagues have an opportunity to demonstrate that they have lost faith in her leadership,' he went on. 

'We simply cannot go on like this, with a weak leader, a riven Cabinet and a party in despair.

'I believe Theresa May has been a failure as leader of our party, which she now threatens to destroy. Hers is a classic example of hubris - and after hubris comes nemesis.'

Remainer Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, a Best for Britain supporter, said: 'Mark Francois has a point for once: how can a decision made prior to the full picture being revealed be binding when its consequences are so large? 

'It's just a shame that Francois seems to want one thing for himself, while making it his job to prevent the same opportunity being extended to the public. 

'Any decision on something as big as Brexit needs to scrutinised by the people. Whatever deal can be agreed on by politicians needs to have the public's sign off.' 

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News Photo Mark Francois demands an unofficial confidence vote in the PM over Brexit talks with Jeremy Corbyn
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