Defiant British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday warned her Conservative Party rebel MPs that overthrowing her as leader would only make negotiation process with the European Union tough over the future of Britain's relationship with the bloc after Brexit.
Britain is facing a political crisis after this week's announcement about the Withdrawal Agreement struck with the 28-member European Union. Two Cabinet ministers and several junior government members have quit the May Cabinet and some of her party MPs have submitted letters of no-confidence.
May could face a no-confidence vote if at least 15 per cent of her party lawmakers - meaning 48 MPs - submit letters saying she has lost their support.
According to reports, the party's influential 1922 Committee is edging closer to the 48-MP mark that is needed to trigger a leadership contest.
But May vowed to fight on for what she believes is the best deal possible.
"Politics is a tough business and I've been in it for a long time," she said during an television interview on Sunday, adding that the next seven days "are going to be critical" for the future of the UK and that she will be travelling to Brussels to meet with EU leaders before an emergency European Council summit on November 25.
Asked whether Sir Graham Brady, Chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, had hit the 48-letter mark from her party MPs needed to trigger a no-confidence vote in her leadership, she replied: "As far as I know, no - it has not."