TWO LOCAL Conservative MPs have expressed their support for Theresa May ahead of the crunch vote on her leadership of the party tonight.

Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) and the party's Chief Whip Julian Smith (Skipton) say they will be backing Mrs May.

Philip Davies (Shipley) said he did not want to comment but he was one of the more than 48 Tory MPs to write a letter to the party chairman calling for a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister's leadership.

Mrs May would need the votes of 158 MPs to survive and so far a majority of Tory MPs have come out in support of her.

The voting process starts at 6pm and lasts two hours.

It is a secret ballot and it is believed the result will be announced shortly afterwards.

Mr Smith tweeted: "Theresa May is the best person to lead both the @Conservatives and the Country. Her integrity, drive and focus is vital at this time."

Mr Andrew tweeted: "The PM will have my support this evening. We have to get on with the job and not this self indulgent navel gazing."