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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. He added: "I think there will be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign."
"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. The PM's speech at the end of the Conservative conference was seen as her opportunity to assert her authority, after her decision to call a snap election backfired.
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." She apologised to activists and 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".
The PM's speech closed the Tory conference where she had faced questions about her leadership and Brexit divisions within her party.
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".
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.
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.
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 a nagging cough and croaky voice forced the PM to stop on more than one occasion. 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.
To add to Mrs May's woes, some of the letters fell off the conference stage backdrop behind her. By the end it read: "Building a country that works or everyon."
Cabinet ministers including Mr Johnson, Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt praised the speech and a No 10 source said colleagues had been "offering support" and declared "resignation is not an issue" for Mrs May.
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, 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 his colleague Charles Walker, vice chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, praised Mrs May's "heroic" efforts on stage, telling the BBC: "You are actually allowed to be ill occasionally and that's what she was, ill - and she was ill because she's been working so damn hard on behalf of this country."
"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. Former minister John Redwood said Mrs May had a "lot more to give" in her role and said he and "many Conservative MPs like me are fully behind her" while Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi said the PM had shown her "grit and determination" and "of course" would stay on as leader.
"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" 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."
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 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. Security at future Conservative events is to be reviewed. The prankster, Mr Brodkin, was later released by police who said he had "legitimate accreditation" to attend the event.
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. Former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft said there was an air of a party that did not "know what it is doing".
He was later released, with the police saying he had "legitimate accreditation" to attend the event. But Business Minister Margot James told the BBC's Daily Politics she believed the coverage of the speech had been "pretty vicious" and Theresa May was "a very good prime minister".
'Embittered ex-ministers' Asked about reports of MPs plotting against her, Ms James said: "I think there will be a small minority of disaffected colleagues who are angry, bitter for whatever personal reasons they've got, and I do hope my other colleagues will have the sense to disown them."
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 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".
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."