Senior Tories consider rule change to speed up May’s exit
THERESA MAY could face a new confidence vote in the wake of the European elections, under plans that are to be considered by senior Tory MPS, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
On Tuesday, the 1922 Committee of backbench MPS will meet to discuss whether the rules should be changed to allow a new attempt to remove the Prime Minister. Under current rules, Mrs May is protected from another leadership challenge until December after a failed attempt to remove her from office last year. But Alan Mabbutt, a senior Conservative Party official, has confirmed that the rules are not determined by the party’s constitution but by backbench MPS themselves.
A string of senior Tory MPS have called for Mrs May to set a date for her departure amid concerns that the European elections would be a “disaster” for the party. Analysis by Comres suggests the Tories stand to lose 41 seats at the next election, with 29 Leave MPS set to be ousted as voters switch to Labour, the Liberal Democrats and SNP.
Derbyshire Conservatives yesterday “overwhelmingly” backed a motion not to take part in the European elections. Councillor Barry Lewis, the leader of the group, said: “The Prime Minister said we would be out by that date [March 29] countless times. So did many others in government. Yet here we are racing towards the end of April and facing an increased prospect of participating in a European election in May that should not be happening.”
The 1922 Committee will convene to discuss whether to change the rules to allow a leadership contest to take place sooner than December.
Nigel Evans, a co-secretary of the committee, said: “I certainly will be leaning towards us changing the rules
if another solution to this situation cannot be found.
“We cannot leave it for 12 months. If we fight the European elections there is only one person responsible – her.”
Under one plan being considered by MPS, a second confidence vote would be allowed to take place six months after the first. It means the vote could be held shortly after the European elections take place on May 23.
One senior member of the 1922 Committee said that positions had hardened during Easter recess. “MPS have been knocking on the doors for the local elections and finding it really hard in terms of the response from their constituents,” the MP said. “There’s a desire to change the rules.” However, others on the committee are concerned that allowing a new vote of confidence to take place will only add to the instability in the Conservative Party and could have long-term repercussions for future leaders.
The Prime Minister has pledged to resign once her deal passes through the Commons, but MPS are concerned this may never happen.
Iain Duncan Smith, the MP and former Tory leader, said: “The deal may never be ratified. The question, therefore, is when will the Prime Minister go? What is required is some clarity about when she will depart.
“Almost universally, the Conservative Party in the country and in Parliament does not want to fight the European elections.”