Senior Tories dismiss ‘foolish’ call for Sunak to be ousted
Senior Tories have rallied roun dr is hi sun ak and warned against "foolish" infighting after former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke called for a change in leader.
Sir Simon warned that the Conservatives will be "massacred" at the general election unless the Prime Minister is replaced.
But Home Secretary James Cleverly and a string of current and former ministers slapped him down.
Mr Cleverly told reporters: "I could not disagree with him more on this particular issue."
He added: "If we were to do something as foolish as have an internal argument at this stage, all it would do is open the door for Keir Starmer."
At prime minister' s questions, Labour leaders irkeir seized on the latest wave of unrest within the Tory ranks.
"We have seen this story time and time again with this lot: party first, country second ," he said.
"Safely ensconced in westminster, they get down to the real business of fighting each other to death. The country forced to endure their division and chaos, the longest episode of Eastenders ever put to film."
Mr Sunak, who was loudly cheered by Tory MPS in a public display of support, ignored the labour leader' s attacks, and instead sought to focus on Sir Keir's own record, saying "he is not a leader, he is a human weathervane".
The latest round of the Tory civil war was sparked by a Telegraph newspaper column in which former level ling up secretary Sir Simon claimed" extinction is a very real possibility" for the party if mr sun ak leads it into the election this year.
"The unvarnished truth is that Rishi Sunak is leading the Conservatives into an election where we will be massacred," he said.
He added: "I know many MPS are afraid another change of leader would look ridiculous.
"But what could be more ridiculousthan meekly sleep walking towards an avoidable annihilation because we were not willing to listen to what the public
are telling us so clearly?"
The Conservative Democratic Organisation, led by allies of former prime minister Boris Johnson, claimed grassroots Tories are effectively "on strike" because of disillusionment with Mr Sunak.
The group' s chairman, former MEP David Campbell Bannerman, said: "Urgent change is needed. Sunak unfortunately has had his chance - and blown it. We need new management."
But senior party figures hit back at the criticism of Mr Sunak, urging colleagues to "unite and get on with the job".
Downing Street suggested Sir Simon did not enjoy wider support among the party.
The Prime Minister's press secretary said: "This is one MP."
She added: "We recognise that he's in a different place to some other MPS that have come out today. He's entitled to his view but that won't distract us from getting on with what matters to people."
Sir Simon was a key ally of former prime minister Liz Truss, but the PA news agency understands she does not back his intervention.
He was among 11 Conservative MPS who voted against the Prime Minister's Rwanda Bill at its third reading earlier this month, despite Mr Sunak seeing off a wider Tory rebellion.
Sunak unfortunately has had his chance and blown it