Update 9.03pm: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won the confidence vote.

Former MP Neil Parish and the Conservative by-election candidate Helen Hurford have been contacted again for comment.

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Update 1.31pm: The result will be announced at 9pm.

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Update 12.40pm: Boris Johnson will address backbench MPs at 4pm today, before the vote at 6pm.

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A confidence vote in Prime Minister Boris Johnson will take place after 6pm today - but Axminster is currently without a Conservative MP to take part in the secret ballot.

Former Tory MP for Tiverton and Honiton (the constituency includes Axminster) Neil Parish resigned on 30 April after admitting to watching pornography in the House of Commons, triggering a by-election to be held on 23 June.

Nub News contacted Mr Parish for comment, but we have not yet received a reply.

We also reached out to leading Tories in the local area for their opinions. Conservative candidate Helen Hurford, who is standing in the by-election, has been approached for comment but has not yet replied.

The confidence vote will take place between 6pm and 8pm this evening, according to Sir Graham Brady MP, chairman of the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee. 

A total of 54 letters of no confidence have now been sent to Sir Graham. 180 votes will be needed to oust the PM in this evening's secret ballot.

The vote comes after the publication of senior civil servant Sue Gray's report, which contains an investigation into 16 events, together with photos of several gatherings.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was issued a £50 fixed penalty notice by police in April for breaking Covid laws in June 2020. In total, 126 fines to 83 people were issued.