A CONSERVATIVE MP involved in a sexting scandal has had the party whip restored today – and immediately backed Theresa May.

Burton MP Andrew Griffiths, a former chief of staff to May, had been suspended six months ago over suggestive text messages.

After having the whip reinstated today, he confirmed he would back the Prime Minister in her no-confidence vote.

Griffiths told Burton Live:  “Theresa May has shown huge determination and bravery in negotiating and arguing for her deal.

"I believe she remains the best person to deliver the Brexit people in Burton and Uttoxeter voted for, and I will be supporting her in tonight’s ballot.”

The married Griffiths lost the whip over 2000 sex texts sent to barmaids.

Labour's Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary Dawn Butler told the Mirror: "It is disgusting.

"What's the point in having a sexual harassment and bullying procedure if it can be overridden just to help the PM keep her job?

"I don't care if he's voting for or against her it is plain and simply wrong."

The whip has also been restroed to Dover MP Charlie Elphicke.

The number of Conservative MPs saying publicly that they would vote for her had passed the 159 required for her to survive the attempt to oust her by early afternoon.

However, uncertainty remained over whether all of them would make good on their promises in the secret ballot taking place in a Commons committee room between 6pm and 8pm, and whether Mrs May would obtain a large enough majority to be secure in her position.

Downing Street sources declined to discuss whether the PM would stay on if she won by only a slender margin.

Failure in the ballot would trigger a leadership contest in which May could not stand.

But if she wins, another challenge cannot be mounted against her position as Tory leader for a year.

May was informed that she would face a ballot by the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, in a phone call at 10.35pm on Tuesday, shortly after she returned to 10 Downing Street from a day of travels which had taken her to The Hague, Berlin and Brussels for Brexit talks with EU leaders.

As day broke in Westminster on Wednesday, Brady issued a press release announcing that the threshold had been reached and a confidence vote would be held later that day.