The British Conservative Party leader Mr Iain Duncan Smith today faced a vote of confidence in his leadership, the party's headquarters announced.
The names of 25 Tory MPs needed to force a ballot had been reached, a spokeswoman said.
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Mr Iain Duncan Smith
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Senior backbencher Sir Michael Spicer, who will now call a contest, was expected to put out a statement shortly, his office indicated.
The Tory leader has vowed to fight any challenge and was expected to make a statement this afternoon.
Mr Duncan Smith needs a simple majority of the votes cast by Tory MPs to survive.
Failure would trigger a leadership contest in which he could not stand.
Mr Duncan Smith had challenged critics to gather the 25 names before tomorrow evening in an attempt to end the "fever" of speculation about his future.
Mr Duncan Smith appeared to have seized the initiative back from those plotting to oust him in a coup that has dominated the headlines since the beginning of the Conservative Party conference.
However, Conservative Central Office was informed that 25 MPs had anonymously contacted Sir Michael, chairman of the 1922 Committee backbench committee.
It is understood that Mr Duncan Smith has agreed with Sir Michael that the confidence vote should be held at tomorrow's meeting of the 1922 Committee immediately after the Conservative leader has spoken to backbench MPs.