Rishi Sunak is preparing for a political comeback as he seeks to convince Tory MPs that the economy is poised to “bounce back” under his leadership. The Mail has more.
The Prime Minister will use a speech in the Midlands to try to shift the political debate on to the economy after a bruising week which triggered speculation he could be deposed before the election.
Allies of the Prime Minister are furious with Commons leader Penny Mordaunt after she failed to publicly distance herself from weekend reports that she is being lined up as a potential unity candidate to replace Mr. Sunak. …
Rebel MPs are targeting the May bank holiday for a potential push against the Prime Minister if the Conservatives take a drubbing in the local elections on May 2nd. One source said it would be the “May Day from Hell” for Mr. Sunak.
Senior Conservatives acknowledge there is widespread dismay at the party’s standing in the polls, but insist that active plotting is confined to a “small minority”. Mr. Sunak will attempt to fight back today by saying the U.K. economy is “turning a corner”. …
The Mail revealed at the weekend that Tory MPs on the Right of the party held secret talks with moderates last week about the possibility of burying their differences to unite behind Ms. Mordaunt.
In a further blow to No. 10, the Mail on Sunday yesterday revealed dire private polling suggesting that the Conservatives are on course for their worst election defeat in history and could be reduced to fewer than 150 seats.
In this scenario, Ms. Mordaunt’s Portsmouth North seat would be among the casualties, prompting one rebel source to observe: “She’s got nothing to lose.” …
Former Cabinet minister Sir David Davis, who backed Ms. Mordaunt’s leadership bid in 2022, warned that installing a fourth leader in two years would be “completely bonkers” and make Labour calls for an immediate election “irresistible”.
But another former minister on the moderate wing of the party said the “balance of opinion is starting to shift” over whether to stick with Mr. Sunak or gamble on a new leader.
Allies of the PM believe Ms. Mordaunt is being used as a ‘stalking horse’ to persuade Tory moderates to submit letters of no-confidence in the PM.
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