Are the Camerons thinking of staying on at No 10 after all?
DAVID Cameron yesterday sparked speculation he might make a U- turn over his plans to step down as Tory leader before the 2020 general election.
The Prime Minister, who previously said he would not carry on, hinted at a change of heart after insisting he does not plan to leave his role as an MP.
In a radio interview with BBC Oxford, Mr Cameron confirmed he would again be standing as MP for Witney, Oxfordshire.
He said: “That is very much my intention.
“I love being MP for Witney and am very keen to continue.
“I draw huge strength from being a Member of Parliament in Oxfordshire.”
A Downing Street spokeswoman would not comment on whether he intends to serve as a backbencher or a minister if he returns to Parliament and said there was “no indication” that he wants to change his plans about stepping down as leader.
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She added: “You got up to 2020 and you got him wanting to stand again.
“I don’t think you can take it any further than that.”
But one senior Tory MP said: “It does raise the question about whether he will go after all.
“I can’t see him wanting to hang around the backbenches.”
The speculation over the Prime Minister’s future comes after he was forced to abandon plans to delay the Queen’s Speech for the State Opening of Parliament until after the EU referendum.
Instead of taking place after the June 23 in- out vote, it will now be on May 18.
There are also suggestions Mr Cameron is losing the confidence of many of his backbenchers, who want a Brexit vote.
London Mayor Boris Johnson’s decision to back the pro- Brexit campaign has been widely seen as an attempt to eventually replace him.