Confidence vote: how it works

The Chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Michael Spicer, will now formally inform Iain Duncan Smith that a vote of no confidence is to be held. He does not need to name those who wrote to him requesting the vote.

After consultation with IDS, he will decide the date of the vote, which is normally held as soon as possible.

If IDS receives a simple majority of the votes cast, he will stay as leader and no further vote of confidence can be called for a period of at least 12 months from the date of the ballot.

If he fails to obtain a majority of the votes, he will be forced to resign as leader of the party, and will not be permitted to stand in the election which follows.