Like all other Conservative MPs eligible, I voted on Monday on the confidence motion in the Prime Minister.

As I had written in these pages in recent weeks following publication of the Sue Gray report, the Prime Minister had lost any benefit of the doubt, and he would have to prove he is the right person to ensure the return of integrity to our politics. This reflected what I had said directly to him when we met in February.

I had not submitted a letter calling for a vote. I suspected there was not a majority of Conservative MPs likely to express no confidence in the Prime Minister. So it proved in the ballot on Monday evening. 

But faced with a vote of no confidence, I decided to vote against the Prime Minister. His leadership has been characterised by making many of the big calls correctly, but has also been buffeted by many challenges, too many self-inflicted. I believe we need to restore integrity, rebuild competence and refresh our vision to meet the significant difficulties which lie ahead for our country. 

The result on Monday night was, however, clear – that a majority of the Conservative parliamentary party still feel the Prime Minister is the right person to lead this Government. This was a smaller majority than either Theresa May or John Major secured, and was, I expect, less than the PM would have hoped. 

There remain significant challenges the PM will have to overcome in coming months, including the Privileges Committee investigation. But under the current rules, another confidence vote within the parliamentary party cannot be held for twelve months. So the parliamentary party should now close ranks and work firmly together to help focus on the real issues facing our country. We made a start on this with the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill introduced for its Second Reading in the Commons on Wednesday.

The PM may well be able to draw a line under current concerns, and he now has another opportunity to prove to me, and the other 41% of Conservative MPs with sufficient reservations who voted against him, that he is willing to change and act accordingly. I sincerely hope he does so.