The May rebellion

PM vows to carry on as revolt grows

THERESA May was embroiled in a Tory civil war last night after MPs blasted her bid to cling to power.

The PM’s admission that she planned to lead the Tories into the next election unleashed a backlash from her own party and was branded a “fantasy” by Labour.

But No10 sources described it as a “confident announcement”, and Mrs May brazened it out, saying there were “real issues we need to be dealing with”.

Speaking in Tokyo next to Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, she said: “I think for most members of the public they would say they want the Government to get on with the job – and that’s exactly what I and the Government are doing.” She pledged to be at the helm at the next general election.

But former Deputy PM Lord Heseltine said the party needed “to change not just the singer, but also the song”. He said: “I don’t think it’s realistic she will lead the party into the next general election.”

Ex-Chancellor George Osborne twisted the knife in an editorial in the London Evening Standard, which he now edits. It said: “We continue to have a rudderless Government when we face huge challenges beyond Brexit.” Comparing Mrs May to a horror film zombie, the paper said: “Britain deserves a better movie than this.”

Former Tory party chairman Grant Shapps said Mrs May’s election campaign had been “disastrous”, and said: “It is too early to be talking about ‘going on and on’, as Margaret Thatcher once said.”

Ex-Cabinet Minister Nicky Morgan said it would be “difficult” for Mrs May to go on.

But Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Mrs May had his “undivided backing”.

Labour’s Jon Trickett said: “Neither the public nor Tory MPs believe her fantasy of staying on till 2022.”