Tory anger at PM, but don’t bet on early exit

If you’re a leader in trouble, beware foreign travel. The list of coups d’état in absentia is long.

The self-styled Emperor of Central Africa, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, lost his throne while away in Libya. Ugandan tyrant Milton Obote was in Singapore when Idi Amin ousted him. For Haiti’s JeanBertrand Aristide, the trigger was a New York trip to address the United Nations. Aged 27, Muammar Gaddafi seized power while King Idris was at a health resort.

Even a wedding invitation carries risks. Gambian president Dawda Jawara was in Britain for the nuptials of Charles and Diana when he learnt he was being overthrown. He called in soldiers from Senegal to save him.

That option is not open to Rishi Sunak, despite the state of the opinion polls.

Sixteen months into the job, the PM faced one of his most difficult weeks. The defection of recent Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson was eclipsed by No 10’s botched handling of racist comments by lead donor Frank Hester.

As we report today, the mood among some Tory MPs has tilted from despair and resignation to anger (page 8). This is directed towards the PM and his advisers in Downing Street, where concern grows about the Government’s inability to narrow the polls. One ex-No 10 adviser suggests Sunak should not spend time outside the UK in the near future.

An early general election on 2 May has now been ruled out. Some Tory MPs question whether Sunak can last until October.

Remember, though, that febrile Westminster rumours often under-price the status quo. No matter how perilous the situation, most leaders just keep backing themselves to turn things around.