A Suffolk MP has said Boris Johnson should resign "in the best interests" of the country and the Conservative Party – and a poll of our readers shows the majority agree.

Today, the Prime Minister will face a vote of confidence after a number of Tory MPs submitted letters saying they no longer wanted him to carry on.

Waveney MP, Peter Aldous, who submitted a letter of no confidence in the PM in February, said he believes the Sue Gray report into lockdown-breaking parties has led "a number of MPs to reach the same conclusion that I did."

He added: "This issue is not going to go away.

"I believe it is in the best interests of the country and the Conservative party for the prime minister to step aside."

In an online poll of more than 100 people carried out by this newspaper, 89% of respondents said the prime minister should step down.

However, two Suffolk MPs have spoken out in support of the PM after today's news.

MP for Suffolk Coastal and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Thérèse Coffey, wrote on Twitter: "I'm voting for the Prime Minister today and call upon my colleagues to do so too.

"The PM has got the big calls right – Covid, Ukraine, jobs, levelling up mission, cost of living help and he got Brexit done.

"Let's focus on delivering our manifesto that got us an 80 seat majority."

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt said: "What happened in Number 10, detailed in the Sue Gray report, was unacceptable. However, it is my view that it will be the people that determine the outcome of the Prime Minister's fate at an election."

He added: "In the meantime, like many colleagues, I am desperately concerned about the impact of the cost of living on the most vulnerable and the small factor of war in Europe - a war that has profound consequences for our own country.

"This is where the government's focus should be."

James Cartlidge, MP for South Suffolk and a junior justice minister, reiterated his April statement in support of the Prime Minister.

Mr Cartlidge said he understands the "anguish and anger" felt by those who were bereaved during the pandemic, but stressed "the Prime Minister got the big calls right."

He also emphasised the importance of senior government members making "fulsome apologies", adding: "The Prime Minister and Chancellor have had testing times of late, but I know that they are going to give it their all to ensure that we deliver on both fronts."

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dan Poulter said last week he was “unhappy” with the PM over Covid rule-breaking – but declined to say whether he has formally submitted a letter of no confidence.

Dr Poulter said: “The most serious charge against the Prime Minister is that of knowingly misleading parliament. Given the scale of rule-breaking in No.10 and across Whitehall that has now been confirmed by the Sue Gray report, I find it difficult to accept that the Prime Minister was unaware.

“His repeated assurances in Parliament that there was no rule-breaking lack credibility.

“It is a matter of principle that a minister who knowingly misleads Parliament should resign and this principle should also apply to the Prime Minister. Whether or not the Prime Minister is an asset to the country is of less importance."

MP for Harwich and North Essex, Sir Bernard Jenkin, also declined to comment as a result of his membership in the Privileges Committee – a special cross-party body which investigates allegations that an MP has committed contempt of parliament.

The committee has been tasked with carrying out an inquiry into whether the PM knowingly misled parliament.

Many Tory MPs have publicly called for the Prime Minister to resign after last month's publishing of the Sue Gray report, an investigation into parties in Number 10 during Covid lockdowns.

However, the total number of MPs who have submitted letters is unknown.

Today's vote will take place between 6pm and 8pm, with a result expected shortly afterwards.