Sir John Major: I have watched Tory turmoil with increasing dismay

Former prime minister Sir John Major lashed out at “disloyal” Tory MPS and ministers as he urged them to back Theresa May – but suggested she must take radical action to win over voters by increasing public spending and reviewing controversial welfare changes.

The ex-tory leader, whose own premiership was marred by infighting and plotting, said he had viewed the turmoil in the Conservative party with “increasing dismay”.

But alongside his appeal for unity, Sir John called for radical action on Mrs May’s social 0 Sir John Major attacked ‘disloyal’ Conservative MPS justice agenda to “win back hearts and minds” or risk the prospect of “neo-marxist” Jeremy Corbyn taking the keys to Number 10.

Sir John said the govern- ment should review Universal Credit, the welfare shakeup which replaces up to six different benefits with a single payment.

More than a dozen Tory MPS have urged ministers to pause the rollout of the policy amid concerns that claimants could face delays in receiving money.

Sir John said the system was “theoretically impeccable” but “operationally messy, socially unfair and unforgiving”.

Writing in a Sunday newspaper he said: “It is time for the Conservative party to show its heart again. We are not living in normal times and must challenge innate conservative caution.”