LONDON, July 10 (Xinhua) -- With the number of resignations sent to Theresa May reaching five since her landmark Chequers meeting, Britain's prime minister insisted Tuesday night she can deliver an orderly departure from the European Union (EU).
The latest blow came as media in London reported that one Conservative member of parliament (MP) has submitted a formal letter calling for a confidence vote in May as the leader of the party.
It was reported that Andrew Bridgen became the first Conservative MP to publicly confirm he had sent a letter calling for a vote of confidence in May.
If a further 47 Conservative MPs send in letters it will trigger a vote of confidence in the leader. Political experts said May would beat any contenders, but facing a confidence vote would dent her credibility, even if it fails to see her replaced.
The Daily Telegraph said Tuesday night that senior Brexiteers said that they have enough letters in hand to trigger a confidence vote and will submit them unless she hardens her Brexit plans.
"If the policy doesn't change the letters will go in," one Eurosceptic Conservative MP told the newspaper, adding that "her deal will be rejected by Brussels, Downing Street must know that. They are either being incompetent or disingenuous."
Both Rookie MP Ben Bradley, who only won a seat in the House of Commons last year, and Maria Caulfield, elected in 2015, resigned as vice chairs of May's governing Conservative Party, citing disagreement with the soft-Brexit announced at a meeting Friday of her full cabinet.
Their departure followed that of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Brexit Secretary David Davis and Davis' number two, Brexit Minister Steve Baker.
Tuesday started as a "business as usual" for May as she chaired the first meeting of her new look cabinet following her reshuffle prompted by the resignations.
