Around 15 Conservative party MPs have agreed to sign a no-confidence motion against British Prime Minister Theresa May as part of a plot to oust her, according to a media report.
Although the letter of no confidence falls short of the 48 names required to trigger a leadership contest,
the UK Parliament's summer break could prove critical for May's future as British prime minister, 'The Sunday Times' reported.
"The numbers change from day to day depending on what's happened but there are about 15 who are fairly consistent in their desire for change. If she has a quiet summer and there are no crises and things are not mismanaged then she might be able to cling on
beyond conference, but that is still a big if," a former minister was quoted as saying.
The reports come days after a summer party in the House of Commons last week where May pleaded with her MPs to "go away and have a proper break and come back ready for serious business".
"No backbiting, no carping. The choice is me or (Opposition Labour leader) Jeremy Corbyn - and no one wants him," Conservative MPs who were present reported her as saying.
Meanwhile, a Conservative party survey indicates that some Tory grassroots MPs want May to quit by Christmas time this year.
The survey, carried out by the Party Members' Project, comes as Parliament stands down for the summer but with bitter party infighting and behind-the-scenes plotting expected to continue over the recess.
David Davis topped a survey of Tory members as the candidate to replace Ms May as leader, but most wanted the Prime Minister to remain in post.
More than a fifth, 21 percent, of Conservatives want the Brexit Secretary to take over from the ailing premier, according to a study by academics.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is his main rival on 17 per cent while backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg made a surprise entry as the third choice with 6 per cent, the party members project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council found.
But more than a quarter, 26 percent, did not know or declined to say who they wanted to see as May's successor,
according to the data obtained by The Observer.
A quarter of respondents said they did not know or could not say who the next leader would be.
However, most Conservatives are keen to avoid a leadership contest until the Brexit negotiations have concluded in 2019, and would prefer to let May finish the job and carry the can in the event of a poor deal with the European Union (EU).
And 71 per cent said they were reluctant for the PM to quit now compared to 22 per cent who want her to go.
Senior members of the 1922 Committee, which represents Conservative backbenchers, have indicated there is no appetite for a leadership election and that Mrs May would have their backing if she sacked plotters.