Shotley peninsula's Conservative MP James Cartlidge has remained tight-lipped over his support, or otherwise, for Boris Johnson.

Mr Cartlidge was contacted by Nub News on behalf of residents from the peninsula last week asking:

Does Boris Johnson still enjoy your unconditional support?

Have you written to the 1922 Committee calling for the PMs resignation?

Do you agree with Mr Johnson's plans to water down the Ministerial Code?

He failed to respond.

The Assington based MP was also contacted this morning to see if he will be voting for the prime minister this evening, but has again failed to let his constituents know his views.

Boris Johnson under pressure

Mr Johnson will face a vote of confidence in his leadership as MPs return to Westminster today after the half-term break.

The threshold of 15 per cent - or 54 Conservative MPs or more - has been reached to trigger a vote of no confidence in the PM after the Partygate scandal.

A ballot will be held between 6pm and 8pm this evening, Monday (June 6). The votes will be counted immediately and an announcement will be made at a time to be advised with more details to be released later today.

If Johnson survives the vote of confidence there will be a period of a year before another ballot could be held. The 58-year-old only needs to win the ballot by a single vote to remain in charge of the country - yet if even if the Eton-educated PM does win commentators believe that his leadership could still be threatened given what happened to previous incumbent Theresa May. Previous MP May won the ballot quite comfortably but rebels eventually forced her out of office within six months.

Further back, in 1993, John Major faced a vote of no confidence but it was unusual in the Conservative party tabled a motion of confidence in itself. That was part of the Prime Minister's bid to shore up support among Tory MPs following the government's defeat the previous day on the Maastricht Treaty Social Chapter.

According to Sir Graham Brady who announced tonight's vote many MPs said they wanted to wait until Jubilee celebrations were over before sending in their letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister.