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Conservative MPs have held an open discussion on how to oust Theresa May from Downing Street, Sky News reports, citing its resources.

About 50 MPs are thought to have gathered for a private meeting to discuss how to remove the prime minister.

Many of them are still unhappy with her Brexit strategy despite EU negotiator Michel Barnier suggesting a deal could be reached by the start of November.

At least 48 letters of no confidence need to be submitted to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady to trigger a vote on her premiership, and Sky sources suggest it could arrive within just a few weeks.

Sky News understands the submission of the required number of letters is being coordinated, with one source suggesting they would be "shocked" if a vote did not occur after the Tory party conference in Birmingham, which runs from 30 September to 3 October.

Government ministers are understood to have confided to members of the European Research Group (ERG) of Tory eurosceptics that Mrs May "has to go".

And at a separate dinner with senior aides of the prime minister at 10 Downing Street, backbenchers reportedly told chief of staff Gavin Barwell that his boss must "chuck Chequers" or risk revolt.

Downing Street has moved to reiterate that the proposals drawn up by Mrs May earlier this summer remains "the only serious, credible and negotiable plan" on the table - one which "delivers on the will of the British people and which prevents the imposition of a hard border in Northern Ireland".

The renewed pressure on Mrs May comes amid ongoing speculation that former foreign secretary Boris Johnson wants her job, having launched yet another broadside at his old boss during a surprise appearance at a Brexiteer event in parliament on Tuesday.