Wednesday 24 April 2019 12:09 pm | Updated: Monday 03 June 2019 12:38 am

Backbench Tory MPs table further talks on Theresa May leadership challenge

A group of influential Tory MPs will meet again today to discuss the possibility of ousting Theresa May as Prime Minister after talks last night failed to reach a decision.

The 1922 committee is mulling a change to the party rulebook that would allow them to launch a fresh challenge against May, despite her winning a vote of no confidence last December by 200 votes to 117. Under the current rules, a leadership challenge cannot be launched until a year has elapsed since the last one.

Some Tory MPs are keen to replace May after her decision to extend Article 50 – the mechanism that allows the UK to leave the EU – until 31 October. Recent polls have also indicated that the Conservatives are on a disastrous course ahead of next month's elections to the European Parliament, where Nigel Farage's new Brexit party is likely to gain ground.

Around 70 Tory associations have also signed a petition calling for May to go.

However, the BBC reported that there has been differences of opinion over whether another vote of no confidence should be allowed after six months rather than a year, depending on whether enough MPs demand it.

Others are also concerned that changing the rulebook – which would set a precedent – would be unhelpful for other Tory leaders in the future.

Meanwhile, talks between the Tories and Labour have resumed with both sides blaming each other for the continued deadlock.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn attributed the lack of progress to the Prime Minister's refusal to move her "red lines", while May's spokesperson said the talks were proving "difficult" and that progress was needed urgently to allow the UK to leave the EU as soon as possible.