BORIS Johnson ally and Bournemouth MP Conor Burns said he hopes tonight’s vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister will bring an end to the matter.

Mr Burns, Minister of State for Northern Ireland, said he will be voting in support of Mr Johnson “enthusiastically”.

The Bournemouth West MP said while he respected “genuine reflective concerns” some of his party colleagues had, he said others who want a change in leadership have ulterior motives.

Mr Burns told the Daily Echo: “I will be voting for the Prime Minister this evening and I will be doing so enthusiastically.

“We need to bring this to an end so we can focus on what matters to the public.”

Mr Burns said some of his colleagues had been motivated to put in letters of no confidence by “genuine reflective concerns” and he respected that.

He added: “Others of the rent-a-gob variety are bitter that they have been sacked or have some delusion they are going to be called for leadership positions.

“I just hope if the Prime Minister wins clearly some who did not accept the result of the Brexit referendum will accept the result of this democratic process.”

Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope has said he will also be voting in support of the Prime Minister.

Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East, is expected to vote against Mr Johnson having already put in his letter to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the backbench 1922 Committee.

Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Michael Tomlinson is a whip in the Conservative government so would be expected to support the Prime Minister.

At present there is no indication how Simon Hoare (North Dorset) and Sir Robert Syms (Poole) will be voting.