Theresa May is to face a vote of no confidence in her leadership of the Conservative party.

The news was confirmed in a Tory party statement on Wednesday morning.

A secret ballot will take place on Wednesday evening between 6pm and 8pm, with the results expected soon after.

All 315 Conservative MPs will vote on whether they believe May, who has been Prime Minister since shortly after the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, should continue as leader.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee, released the statement saying the threshold of 48 signatures "has been exceeded".

If May wins the ballot, the party will be unable to challenge her premiership for another year, however, if she loses, there will be a leadership election and she will not be allowed to run.

Making a statement outside Downing Street on Wednesday, May said: "A change in leadership in the Conservative party now will put our country's future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it.

"A new leader wouldn't be in place by January 21 legal deadline, so a leadership election risks handing control of Brexit negotiations to opposition MPs in parliament."

She added: "I have devoted myself unsparingly to these tasks ever since I became prime minister, and I stand ready to finish the job."

Nicola Sturgeon branded the party "self-centred" following the announcement.

The First Minister wrote: "Today is a stark reminder that the UK is facing chaos and crisis entirely because of a vicious civil war within the Tory party.

"What a self-centred bunch they are. They all need to go, not just the PM."

She added: "While Westminster crumbles further into chaos, with a UK government that has ceased to function, @scotgov will set out our budget for the year ahead - protecting public services, supporting the economy, and building a fairer country."

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted that he was backing May to stay in the job.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said the contest was "the last thing our country needs right now" and that it would be seen as "self-indulgent and wrong".

Amber Rudd, who is widely tipped as a leadership contender if May is ousted from power, showed her support for the Prime Minister on Twitter.

She said: "The PM has my full support. At this critical time we need to support and work with the PM to deliver on leaving the EU, & our domestic agenda - ambitious for improvements to people's lives & to build on growth of wages & jobs."

Environment secretary Michael Gove tweeted: "I am backing the Prime Minister 100% - and I urge every Conservative MP to do the same.

"She is battling hard for our country and no one is better placed to ensure we deliver on the British people's decision to leave the EU."

A secret ballot by MPs take place from 6-8pm on Wednesday, and the result will be announced shortly afterwards.

If the PM loses the vote, she would not be able to stand in the subsequent leadership contest.

Candidates for the leadership must be nominated by two Conservative MPs.

If only one candidate comes forward, he or she becomes leader.

If a number of would-be leaders are nominated, the list is whittled down to a shortlist of two in a series of votes by MPs.

The final pair then go to a postal ballot of all party members, with the position of leader - and Prime Minister - going to the victor.

The contest would be expected to last around 12 weeks and Mrs May could remain in the post during the campaign period.