WEST Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger was among the 148 who voted against Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Monday’s ‘confidence vote’.

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (pictured) said ahead of the vote that he believed Mr Johnson should step down and he would be casting a proxy vote against him in the ballot.

He was unable to vote in person because he was in Sierra Leone co-chairing the Africa Regional Conference and had no way of returning to the UK in time.

Neighbouring Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, however, refused to answer questions on whether or not she voted to support Prime Minister.

The Free Press asked Ms Pow, given that all 359 Conservative MPs voted, if she had supported the Prime Minister or if she cast a ‘no confidence’ ballot.

But Ms Pow issued a statement on Tuesday which read: “Following last night’s vote of confidence in the Prime Minister, I believe it is important that we now pull together, deliver for the country, and turn our focus to the economy, jobs and skills, cost of living, further support for Ukraine, and the new era for sustainable food production and food security with nature recovery.

“I continue to support the Government in fulfilling these ambitions.”

Ms Pow is currently a junior Minister in the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), a post from which she would have been expected to resign had she voted against the Prime Minister.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said ahead of the vote: “I have made my view clear both to the Prime Minister himself and to the chairman of the 1922 Committee, a member of which will be submitting my vote.

“I believe he should step down for the good of the country.

“That is the only way to resolve this intolerable situation which is damaging both the Government’s ability to govern and the UK’s reputation on the world stage.

“And even if the Prime Minister survives tonight my views on his position and the step I believe he should take will remain unchanged.”