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Theresa May: Tories rally round PM after speech woes Theresa May: Tories rally round PM after speech woes
(about 3 hours later)
Tory MPs have rallied round Theresa May after her conference speech on Wednesday was marred by mishaps.Tory MPs have rallied round Theresa May after her conference speech on Wednesday was marred by mishaps.
Cabinet ministers praised her for persevering despite a persistent cough and being interrupted by a prankster, with Home Secretary Amber Rudd saying she was doing an "excellent job".Cabinet ministers praised her for persevering despite a persistent cough and being interrupted by a prankster, with Home Secretary Amber Rudd saying she was doing an "excellent job".
But ex-minister Ed Vaizey said "quite a few people" wanted her to quit.But ex-minister Ed Vaizey said "quite a few people" wanted her to quit.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said that while many MPs wanted her to stay as leader, there were "emerging plots".The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said that while many MPs wanted her to stay as leader, there were "emerging plots".
These involved Tory MPs trying to gather support to approach Mrs May privately and persuade her to stand aside.These involved Tory MPs trying to gather support to approach Mrs May privately and persuade her to stand aside.
This group will only act if they feel they have the numbers to do so "quickly and cleanly", the BBC political editor added, saying: "It is just not clear at the moment where the numbers really lie."This group will only act if they feel they have the numbers to do so "quickly and cleanly", the BBC political editor added, saying: "It is just not clear at the moment where the numbers really lie."
Speaking on BBC Radio Oxford, Mr Vaizey, who was sacked as a culture minister when Mrs May became leader in 2016, said most people were being "pretty loyal" in public but were "very concerned" in private.Speaking on BBC Radio Oxford, Mr Vaizey, who was sacked as a culture minister when Mrs May became leader in 2016, said most people were being "pretty loyal" in public but were "very concerned" in private.
"It does a bit remind me of the 1990s where the prime minister can't assert their authority but also where the party's split down the middle and that's very bad for the country," he said."It does a bit remind me of the 1990s where the prime minister can't assert their authority but also where the party's split down the middle and that's very bad for the country," he said.
Asked whether Mrs May should step aside, he added: "I think there will be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign."Asked whether Mrs May should step aside, he added: "I think there will be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign."
The PM's speech closed the Tory conference where she had faced repeated questions about her leadership and Brexit divisions within her party. The PM's speech closed the Tory conference where she had faced questions about her leadership and Brexit divisions within her party.
It was billed in advance as her opportunity to assert her authority after her decision to call a snap election backfired and she apologised to activists for her shortcomings during this summer's campaign. It was seen as her opportunity to assert her authority after her decision to call a snap election backfired and she apologised to activists for her shortcomings during the campaign.
She put forward a range of new policies, including an extra £2bn to build 25,000 new council houses and social homes for rent by 2021 and draft legislation for a cap on standard tariff energy bills, which she said were part of her mission to improve people's lives and promote a "British dream".She put forward a range of new policies, including an extra £2bn to build 25,000 new council houses and social homes for rent by 2021 and draft legislation for a cap on standard tariff energy bills, which she said were part of her mission to improve people's lives and promote a "British dream".
However, the aftermath of the speech was dominated by the prime minister's struggle in delivering it and questions about what it meant for her future. But a nagging cough and croaky voice forced the PM to stop on more than one occasion - she sought to make light of her troubles, cracking a joke when Chancellor Philip Hammond handed her a cough sweet.
A nagging cough and croaky voice forced the PM to stop on more than one occasion but she sought to make light of her troubles, cracking a joke when Chancellor Philip Hammond handed her a cough sweet. Cabinet ministers including Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt praised the speech afterwards.
A succession of cabinet ministers, including Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt, praised the speech afterwards.
A No 10 source confirmed it had received calls from colleagues "offering support" to the prime minister and declared "resignation is not an issue" for Mrs May.A No 10 source confirmed it had received calls from colleagues "offering support" to the prime minister and declared "resignation is not an issue" for Mrs May.
What now for May?What now for May?
By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editorBy Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
Politics is certainly cruel, and clearly the prime minister was the victim of some appallingly bad luck.Politics is certainly cruel, and clearly the prime minister was the victim of some appallingly bad luck.
A former minister told me that after the election and Grenfell it would only have taken one more event to trigger her exit and this "was the event".A former minister told me that after the election and Grenfell it would only have taken one more event to trigger her exit and this "was the event".
In normal political times, it is probably the case that what one minister described as a "tragedy" would have led to a prime minister being forced out or quitting.In normal political times, it is probably the case that what one minister described as a "tragedy" would have led to a prime minister being forced out or quitting.
But these aren't normal times. Allies of Theresa May say Wednesday's events have shown her resilience and determination in spades, demonstrating exactly why she deserves to stay in the job.But these aren't normal times. Allies of Theresa May say Wednesday's events have shown her resilience and determination in spades, demonstrating exactly why she deserves to stay in the job.
Read more from our political editorRead more from our political editor
But backbench Tory MP Mark Pritchard said on Twitter that a "small number" of colleagues were raising questions over her leadership in text messages.But backbench Tory MP Mark Pritchard said on Twitter that a "small number" of colleagues were raising questions over her leadership in text messages.
Mr Pritchard, who was last month appointed as one of Mrs May's trade envoys, warned those "circling above" that there was only one message: "There is no vacancy at No 10."Mr Pritchard, who was last month appointed as one of Mrs May's trade envoys, warned those "circling above" that there was only one message: "There is no vacancy at No 10."
John Redwood, a former minister in John Major's government, said Mrs May had a "lot more to give" in her role and that in discussions with colleagues after the speech he detected a "lot of warmth and support for her". John Redwood, a former minister in John Major's government, said Mrs May had a "lot more to give" in her role.
"I and many Conservative MPs like me are fully behind her and we are sorry for her that her voice went at the wrong moment," he told the BBC."I and many Conservative MPs like me are fully behind her and we are sorry for her that her voice went at the wrong moment," he told the BBC.
"But we do not think it spoils the underlying message and the strong point she made to the party that it is our job to get on delivering a strong Brexit.""But we do not think it spoils the underlying message and the strong point she made to the party that it is our job to get on delivering a strong Brexit."
Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi said the PM had shown her "grit and determination" in the face of adversity and "of course" would stay on as leader. Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi said the PM had shown her "grit and determination" and "of course" would stay on as leader.
"When she gets a good deal from our Euro partners the whole narrative will change," he told Channel 4 News. "She is focused and will deliver.""When she gets a good deal from our Euro partners the whole narrative will change," he told Channel 4 News. "She is focused and will deliver."
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Business Secretary Greg Clark said people admired the "poise" and "guts" the PM showed to get through her speech.Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Business Secretary Greg Clark said people admired the "poise" and "guts" the PM showed to get through her speech.
He also said the fact that a comedian was able to get within yards of the prime minister and hand her a mock P45 redundancy notice showed a "weakness in the system". He also said the fact that a comedian was able to get within yards of the prime minister showed a "weakness in the system".
Security at future Conservative events is to be reviewed after the incident. Security at future Conservative events is to be reviewed.
Prankster Simon Brodkin - also known as his TV persona Lee Nelson - was arrested by Greater Manchester Police after briefly interrupting the PM and giving her a sheaf of paper he claimed was from Boris Johnson. Prankster Simon Brodkin - also known as his TV persona Lee Nelson - was arrested by Greater Manchester Police after briefly interrupting the PM and giving her and a mock P45 redundancy notice he claimed was from Boris Johnson.
He was later released, with the police saying he had "legitimate accreditation" to attend the event.He was later released, with the police saying he had "legitimate accreditation" to attend the event.
"You can't have a situation in which the prime minister is standing and someone of completely unknown intentions rushes onto the stage," Mr Clark added. 'Embittered ex-ministers'
To add to Mrs May's woes, some of the letters fell off the conference stage backdrop behind her during the speech. By the end it read: "Building a country that works or everyon."To add to Mrs May's woes, some of the letters fell off the conference stage backdrop behind her during the speech. By the end it read: "Building a country that works or everyon."
Labour seized on the confusion, publishing a spoof image on social media suggesting their opponents had run out of ideas, while also criticising Conservative housing and energy policies as limited and timid. Labour published a spoof image on social media suggesting their opponents had run out of ideas, while also criticising Conservative housing and energy policies as limited and timid.
And former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft said there was an air of a party that did not "know what it is doing".And former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft said there was an air of a party that did not "know what it is doing".
Conservative backbencher Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told the BBC's World at One there was a "mood of goodwill" towards the prime minister but she now had to "demonstrate that she's in charge, she has a vision for where she wants to take this country into Brexit and beyond and then I think we can move forward with confidence. At the moment we're, I have to say, a little bit in limbo after the speech".
Business Minister Margot James suggested aggrieved former ministers were behind the talk of plots, telling BBC Newsnight: "There are some ex-cabinet ministers or ex-ministers who are extremely embittered individuals who just want to get their own back on the fact that they don't feel recognised."