Tories want roadmap for PM’S departure as coup fails

Senior backbenchers reject Brexiteers’ plan to force no-confidence vote by changing party rules

Christopher Hope

Anna Mikhailova

ANOTHER Brexiteer coup against the Prime Minister fizzled out yesterday as senior backbenchers decided not to change the Conservative Party’s rules to allow an early leadership challenge.

However, Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, said it was time Theresa May set a date for her departure by giving a “clear roadmap” for her exit from 10 Downing Street.

Under the party’s rules, Mrs May cannot be challenged until December after winning a no-confidence vote last December by 200 votes to 117.

Some backbenchers had sought to change the rules to allow another vote after just six months, but in a meeting yesterday members of the executive of the 1922 Committee decided against it.

The decision was reportedly passed by a majority of nine to seven. Eyebrows were raised when it emerged that Julian Smith, the Chief Whip, was in the room for the meeting. Sir Graham confirmed that Mrs May would not face another vote until December.

He said: “We haven’t come to blows. We have sought clarity on the timetable and schedule of her departure.”

Mrs May has so far only pledged to stand down when the terms of Britain’s exit from the EU have been agreed.

However, Sir Graham said the party “would seek similar clarity from her in other circumstances” if the Withdrawal Agreement were not passed by MPS.

“I think the 1922 executive was asking on behalf of the Conservative Party in Parliament that we should have a clear roadmap for it,” he added. Responding to the decision, Andrea Jenkyns, the MP for Morley and Outwood, said: “With Margaret Thatcher, at least she knew when her time was up. Theresa May is dogmatic. She has got her fingers in her ears.”

But Nicky Morgan, a former Cabinet minister, said the Tories should be “pulling ourselves together, rather than re-running a confidence vote”. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised that the party is putting pressure on party chairmen to withdraw backing for a grassroots vote on Mrs May.

Dinah Glover, a local area chairman who is behind the plan, told today’s Chopper’s Brexit Podcast: “What we do have concerns about is people coming under pressure – which would be wrong – by the party.” A Conservative Party source said “this is simply not true and completely unsubstantiated”.

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