The neighbouring MP for Frome, James Heappey, who represents Wells, said he is uncomfortable about the party gate scandal, but will be supporting the Prime Minister in his confidence vote this evening (June 6)

Mr Heappey who is Minister for the Armed Forces said on social media that it is not time for the Conservatives to squabble.

He posted : " I've been uncomfortable with much of what's emerged about events in No 10 during Covid lockdowns. But UK faces enormous economic & security challenges that can't be wished away. This is time for Govt to deliver not squabble amongst itself. I'll be supporting the PM this evening. "

Earlier the North Somerset MP John Penrose, who was appointed as the anti corruption tsar, resigned saying the PM should have already quit for having broken (in Penrose's view) the ministerial code of conduct.

The MP, who represents Weston super Mare and is married to Dido Harding, wrote that following Boris Johnson's reply last week about the Ministerial Code, "it's pretty clear he has broken it. That's a resigning matter for me, and it should be for the PM too. " He added later on radio that it was a matter of when not if the Prime Minister would have to resign.

Frome Nub News has approached Frome MP David Warburton to find out whether he has confidence in the Prime Minister. We have yet to get a reply and have approached Conservative office to find out if he will get the whip returned in order to vote this evening.

David Warburton has been unable to work as the town's Conservative MP since he had the whip suspended while under investigation for sexual harassment by the Commons' independent complaints and grievance scheme. News of that broke on April 2.

He checked into a medical facility following allegations of drug taking and behaving inappropriately to three women, and in spite of repeated requests for an update on what he would be doing about the constituency and his seat, no comment has been given to Frome Nub News.

At least 180 Conservative MPs - a majority - will have to vote against Boris Johnson to force him out. 

There is a precedent for the whip to be returned ahead of the confidence vote. For the 2018 vote on whether Teresa May should continue as Prime Minister the then MP Charlie Elphicke who had the whip suspended for " serious allegations" and MP Andrew Griffiths who had been suspended for sending explicit messages to a female constituent, were both allowed to vote.

Mrs May won the vote, and party rules prevented her opponents from launching another no confidence vote for a year. However, opposition to her leadership continued and in May the following year she resigned.