A vote of no confidence has been triggered in British Prime Minister Theresa May.

48 letters challenging her leadership of the Conservative Party have been submitted to the chair of a committe of backbench MPs.

The vote is due to take place later this evening which the Prime Minister says she'll challenge 'with everything she's got'.

During her speech at no. 10 Downing Street this morning Mrs May confirmed her planned trip to Dublin this evening won't now go ahead.

Theresa May was due to meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as part of her tour of European leaders to try and save the Brexit deal.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs says a leadership contest is an internal matter.