Rebel MPs back Rishi Sunak plot to replace PM Liz Truss
Rebel MPs in support of Rishi Sunak plot to topple the PM while Boris Jonson’s allies consider voting down budget measures bill as Liz Truss arrives smiling at the Tory conference
- Rishi Sunak supporters plot to install him at No10 if Liz Truss’ Government falls
- They believe rules should be changed so MPs have sole right to pick a successor
- Meanwhile Boris Johnson supporters plan to vote down budget measures bill
Rishi Sunak’s supporters are plotting to install the former Chancellor in No10 as part of a ‘coronation’ if Liz Truss’s Government falls in the wake of the mini-Budget, The Mail on Sunday understands.
Mr Sunak’s MP backers argue that the leadership rules should be ripped up to give MPs the sole right to pick a successor to Ms Truss without the long campaign to court party members that led to Ms Truss succeeding Boris Johnson last month.
As Ms Truss arrived at the Tory Party conference in Birmingham, backbench plotting was reaching levels febrile even by Tory Party standards.
As Ms Truss arrived at the Tory Party conference in Birmingham, backbench plotting was reaching levels febrile even by Tory Party standards
Rishi Sunak’s supporters are said to be plotting to install the former Chancellor in No10 as part of a ‘coronation’ if Liz Truss’s Government falls in the wake of the mini-Budget
In addition to Mr Sunak, supporters of Boris Johnson have been talking about voting down the bill containing the budget measures to bring down the Government, allowing Mr Johnson to become a ‘caretaker’ prime minister.
But allies of Mr Johnson insist it is ‘too soon’ for him to return.
Michael Gove, who is speaking at nine events at the conference, is suspected of plotting one last tilt at the leadership, something which his friends angrily dismiss.
One of Mr Sunak’s supporters last night insisted that Ms Truss was ‘finished’ and said the party should repeat the 2003 leadership election, when Michael Howard was given the top job unopposed.
The senior Tory told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Rishi is the only answer. You go for a coronation.’
The call came as Red Wall MPs elected just three years ago voiced fears that Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-Budget would cost them their seats in the wake of one poll that gave Labour a huge 33-point lead.
One said: ‘We have worked so hard to do better with lower income voters, but the optics of these tax cuts for the wealthy are so bad.’
The MP added: ‘Even people who backed Liz in the leadership contest think she’s had it. Most of the conversations are: How do we get rid of her?’
Even one former Minister in favour of tax cuts bemoaned the way the mini-Budget was done, saying it had imperilled the party’s hallowed reputation for financial competence.
Michael Gove, who is speaking at nine events at the conference, is suspected of plotting one last tilt at the leadership, something which his friends angrily dismiss
He said: ‘And that’s like virginity. Once you’ve lost that, it’s rather hard to get it back.’
But one former Cabinet Minister claimed it was ‘madness’ to talk of another change of leader. He said: ‘Anyone suggesting we can replace Liz needs therapy.’
Tory Party rules both protect Ms Truss from any leadership challenge for 12 months and specify that, as happened this summer, the final two candidates in any contest are voted on by the party’s membership.
But one backbench MP who entered the Commons in 2019 said last night that if Tory MPs wanted Ms Truss out, the rules could simply be changed.
He said: ‘Ultimately, the Parliamentary party and the party board can do what it wants.’
Supporters of Boris Johnson have been talking about voting down the budget measures bill to bring down the Government, allowing Mr Johnson to become a ‘caretaker’ prime minister
Backers of Mr Sunak conceded that changing the leader again so soon would be embarrassing but could stave off a General Election wipeout.
One key Rishi supporter said: ‘Yes, we will look shambolic. But you’ve got to hope that after 18 months of Rishi on the tiller, things will look better.’
Another MP who backed Ms Truss said colleagues were discussing a ‘unity’ candidate, adding: ‘Gove will be blamed by Liz for being behind it.’
One rebel Tory said last night that Ms Truss could redeem herself by making a better than expected speech at the conference.
But he warned: ‘I don’t think that will happen.’
Labour sources confirmed last night they were ‘in talks’ with Tory MPs furious at the tax cut with a view to voting it down in the Commons.
A friend of Mr Gove said: ‘These so-called friends of Liz should stop obsessing about Gove and focus on sorting out the mess they’ve created.’
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