Fifteen Tory MPs to sign May ‘no confidence’ letter
At least 15 Conservative MPs have reportedly agreed to sign a letter of no confidence in Theresa May.
It comes after the Prime Minister told plotting Tory MPs “it’s me or Jeremy Corbyn” as she insisted a leadership challenge would trigger another general election. Although the letter of no confidence falls short of the 48 names required to trigger a leadership contest, Parliament’s summer break could prove critical for Ms May’s future.
A former minister told The Sunday Times: “The numbers change from day to day depending on what’s happened but there are about 15 who are fairly consistent in their desire for change. If she has a quiet
summer and there are no crises and things are not mismanaged then she might be able to cling on beyond conference, but that is still a big if.”
At a summer party last week, Ms May pleaded with her MPs to “go away and have a proper break and come back ready for serious business”. Conservative MPs who were present reported her saying: “No backbiting, no carping. The choice is me or Jeremy Corbyn – and no one wants him.”
The Sunday Times' source added: “The break will either have dissipated some of the resentment towards her for gambling away the party’s majority or the rumblings around her leadership will start to flare up again.”
Brexit Secretary David Davis is the current favourite to replace Ms May as leader, should she step down or a leadership challenge arise. But senior members of the 1922 Committee, which represents Conservative backbenchers, have indicated there is no appetite for a leadership election and that Mrs May would have their backing if she sacked plotters.