PM’S FRANTIC FORTNITE

WE ARE in the middle of 14 days of particularly vicious infighting between Theresa May’s warring Ministers – the Tories’ own version of the latest hit video game, Fortnite.

Online, players fight to the death on an island using crossbows, rifles and grenade launchers. In the reallife equivalent, Ministers seem ready to fight to the political death using resignations, barbs, obscenities, slapdowns and threats.

Mrs May’s ‘frantic fortnight’ is poised to reach an explosive final scene at a Chequers Brexit summit on Friday. On the left, we suggest how the rival summit teams line up Fortnite-style.

And here’s how events have played out so far:

June 22:

Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands quits as International Trade Minister over Heathrow expansion plans, saying he was honouring a pledge to constituents. It’s a dig at Uxbridge MP Boris Johnson, who made a similar vow , but did not resign.

June 23:

It is revealed that Mr Johnson said ‘f*** business’ at a Foreign Office cocktail party when asked about bosses’ claims that Brexit would damage the economy.

June 24:

Mail on Sunday reveals Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson vowed to force Mrs May to spend billions more on defence, boasting: ‘I made her and I can break her.’

June 24:

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, a Brexit ‘convert’, is accused of trying to boost his Tory leadership hopes by slamming aircraft firm Airbus’s ‘completely inappropriate’ warning they could quit the UK if we leave the customs union.

June 25:

Anti-Brexit Business Secretary Greg Clark slaps down Hunt, saying Airbus ‘deserves respect’ for defending jobs.

June 25:

Mr Johnson uses an Afghanistan trip as an excuse to defy Mrs May’s plea to Cabinet to back her over Heathrow in Commons vote.

June 26:

Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss mocks Michael Gove’s green campaigns and rebukes Mr Williamson saying it’s ‘not macho’ to demand more cash.

June 27:

An ally of furious Gove, ex Tory Minister Ed Vaizey, accuses Ms Truss of attention-seeking.

June 29:

No 10 takes revenge on Mr Williamson by removing him from a statement praising a £20 billion warship deal. Ex Tory Minister Lord Bridges says Cabinet rows may damage EU talks.

Today:

Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood disowns ‘undignified’ Mr Williamson (see Page 8).

July 6:

Cabinet Brexit summit at Chequers.