A Tory MP has tabled a motion of no confidence in John Bercow after he said he would block an invitation for Donald Trump to address Parliament because of his "racism and sexism".
James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, said the Commons Speaker’s remarks about the US President were “wholly inappropriate”.
The former minister tabled the motion of no confidence and told Sky News Mr Bercow had "overstepped the mark".
It comes after the Speaker faced calls to consider his position after he said Mr Trump should not be allowed to address Parliament on his state visit to Britain later this year.
On Tuesday, Mr Bercow had said an invitation to give a speech at Westminster Hall was an “earned honour” for a foreign leader and not an “automatic right”.
He said he was “strongly opposed” to the idea of an address even before the new US president imposed his controversial travel ban and that he had since become "even more strongly" against it.
His extraordinary intervention was applauded by MPs on the opposition benches as he said he believed Parliament must stand up to "racism and sexism".
Mr Bercow is one of three people that would have to approve an invitation for Mr Trump to address MPs at Westminster Hall.
Mr Duddridge wrote to Theresa May earlier this week requesting that ministers are given a free vote in any potential vote designed to topple Mr Bercow.
Mr Bercow's move irritated several Tories and also caused a clash with Lord Speaker Lord Fowler, who vowed to keep an "open mind" about Mr Trump addressing Parliament.
But the Speaker received support from Labour in the Commons earlier, with the Opposition urging ministers to reject calls for a vote of no confidence.
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Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz urged her opposite number to "confirm that the Government will not support any attempts to act on the letter to the Prime Minister about comments made on a point of order in this chamber".
Commons Leader David Lidington did not respond to the question about the Speaker but said the Government had to deal with the US president as he was democratically elected, despite strong feelings on the matter.
He said: "Whatever view any of us as individuals might have on any particular leader of another country, the reality is that governments have to deal with other governments in the world as they exist and particularly with elected governments who are able to claim a mandate from their own people."
Mr Lidington told MPs there was no challenge to the legitimacy of the US election, despite the "bitterness" of the campaign.
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