MPs urged to stick with Prime Minister
PM accused of alienating members of own ranks
Chancellor Philip Hammond has called on Tory MPs to “stick with” the Prime Minister as more backbenchers broke cover to express frustrations with Theresa May.
Disquiet in Tory ranks amid calls for a leadership contest is said to be close to the trigger point needed to force a battle aimed at toppling Mrs May.
CHANCELLOR PHILIP Hammond has called on Tory MPs to “stick with” the Prime Minister as more backbenchers broke cover to express frustrations with Theresa May.
Disquiet in Tory ranks has led to reports that the number of MPs who have written to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee calling for a leadership contest is close to the trigger point needed to force a battle aimed at toppling Mrs May.
Asked about talk of a leadership contest and concerns over how Brexit is being handled, Mr Hammond told ITV News :“I would say to my colleagues, stick with the Prime Minister.
“She’s navigating a very tricky, difficult negotiation process. We have to get the implementation period agreed, then we have to negotiate the best possible deal for Britain for the future relationship with the European Union.
“I have confidence in the Prime Minister to deliver that and I would urge them to get behind her.”
The intervention came as leading Brexit backer Bernard Jenkin said Mrs May was “a little bit hobbled” by a Cabinet that did not represent the views of the party as he urged the PM to take a firmer grip.
He told BBC2’s Daily Politics: “The parliamentary party as a whole would like to see her impose her authority – let the leopard come bounding out of the cage.”
In a further sign of discontent, a usually loyal MP went public to speak out about “growing frustration” among his colleagues at Westminster.
Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, who has previously called for Ministers showing disloyalty to the Prime Minister to be sacked, warned that Mrs May was coming under fire for taking her allies for granted.
Writing on Twitter, Mr Pritchard said: “No major revolt on the Tory backbenches. However, there is a growing frustration that Number 10 is not plugged into the views and opinions of many backbench MPs or even interested.
“The PM is also being criticised for taking her very small group of allies for granted. A big mistake!”
And prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who chairs the influential Tory European Research Group, warned on Thursday of the May administration taking a “timid and cowering” approach to EU withdrawal.
According to The Sun, the number of letters sent to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady by backbench MPs has nearly reached the threshold of 48 required to launch a leadership contest.
Concerns have been voiced by backbenchers over the competence of the Number 10 operation following the botched snap election of 2017, Mrs May’s ill-fated conference speech and a poorlyreceived reshuffle.
And there have been complaints of Mrs May failing to listen to views of backbenchers.
One Tory MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “David Cameron was aloof, but exercised patronage with precision to great effect.
“Theresa May is aloof but has no clue how to exercise patronage and as a result is rapidly alienating many Tory backbenchers, even some of her friends.”
Sir Graham refused to comment on how many letters he had received. But committee insiders denied suggestions that he has resorted to urging Tory MPs to hold off from demanding a contest because he is close to the threshold for triggering one.
Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt hit back at Mrs May’s critics, saying: “Anyone who uses the word ‘timid’ about this Prime Minister is absolutely wrong.”
Mr Pritchard, who works as a trade envoy for the PM, has previously spoken out against efforts to undermine her.