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Grant Shapps: Tories within rights to urge May to go Grant Shapps: Tories within rights to urge May to go
(35 minutes later)
Tory MPs are "perfectly within their rights" to urge Theresa May to quit, a former party chairman has told the BBC.Tory MPs are "perfectly within their rights" to urge Theresa May to quit, a former party chairman has told the BBC.
Grant Shapps has admitted being one of the leaders in an attempt to persuade Mrs May to call a leadership election, and said up to 30 MPs support the move. Grant Shapps has admitted being one of the leaders of an attempt to persuade Mrs May to call a leadership election, and said up to 30 MPs support the move.
Cabinet ministers have been rallying around the prime minister after her conference speech was overshadowed by a prankster and her persistent cough. Cabinet ministers have been rallying around the prime minister after her accident-prone conference speech.
Damian Green said it was "nonsense" to suggest she should go over the speech. Michael Gove said she was a "fantastic" leader, had widespread support, and should stay "as long as she wants".
The environment secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today that the "overwhelming majority of MPs and the entirety of the cabinet" backed the prime minister.
"She has been an excellent prime minister and I hope she carries on as prime minister for years to come," he said, adding that "refuelling leadership speculation was...one of the most boring stories in politics".
A total of 48 MPs would need to write to the chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tories in order to trigger a leadership contest.
Mr Shapps, who was co-chair of the party between 2012 and 2015, said no letter had been sent yet but suggested that the number of those unhappy with Mrs May's leadership were growing.
'Emerging plots''Emerging plots'
But Mr Shapps, who was co-chair of the party between 2012 and 2015, told the BBC Mrs May was a "perfectly decent person" but had "rolled the dice" and lost over her decision to call a snap election. He told the BBC the prime minister was a "perfectly decent person" but had "rolled the dice" and lost over her decision to call a snap election.
He said he had previously informed No 10 that a growing number of Tory MPs were keen to have a leadership election.
"The time has come. You can't just carry on when things aren't working. The solution is not to bury heads in the sand," he told Radio 4."The time has come. You can't just carry on when things aren't working. The solution is not to bury heads in the sand," he told Radio 4.
Mr Shapps said the "up to 30 MPs" who backed his plan did not include any current members of the cabinet, but did include five former cabinet ministers. He suggested the country was crying out for leadership and the evidence of the last few weeks and months was that "this is not going to happen".
He said the list of colleagues covered "a broad spread" including Remainers and Brexiteers. Mr Shapps said the list of malcontents included five former cabinet ministers and while it did not did not contain any current cabinet ministers, he said many "privately" had concerns.
A total of 48 MPs would need to write to the chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tories in order to trigger a leadership contest. The list of colleagues covered "a broad spread" including Remainers and Brexiteers, he added.
Mr Shapps told the Today programme his original intention had been to go to the prime minister privately and not write to the 1922 committee in order to "avoid embarrassment" for Mrs May, but the whips briefed the Times newspaper instead. Mr Shapps told the Today programme his original intention had been to go to the prime minister privately and not write to the 1922 committee in order to "avoid embarrassment" for Mrs May, but party whips had briefed the Times newspaper that he was behind the plot.
But those rallying around Theresa may include Mr Green, the first secretary of state. Those rallying around Theresa May include Damian Green, the first secretary of state.
He said it was "complete nonsense" to suggest that having a cold or having an "unfunny pillock" interrupt her speech meant she was the wrong person for the job.He said it was "complete nonsense" to suggest that having a cold or having an "unfunny pillock" interrupt her speech meant she was the wrong person for the job.
He told BBC One's Question Time: "I know that she is as determined as ever to get on with her job - she sees it as her duty to do so.He told BBC One's Question Time: "I know that she is as determined as ever to get on with her job - she sees it as her duty to do so.
"She will carry on and she will make a success of this government.""She will carry on and she will make a success of this government."
Mrs May's conference speech was meant to be a chance to assert her authority over the party following her ill-fated decision to call a snap general election that saw her party lose MPs.Mrs May's conference speech was meant to be a chance to assert her authority over the party following her ill-fated decision to call a snap general election that saw her party lose MPs.
But it was plagued by a series of mishaps, as she struggled with a persistent cough, was interrupted by a prankster and some of the letters fell off the conference stage backdrop behind her.But it was plagued by a series of mishaps, as she struggled with a persistent cough, was interrupted by a prankster and some of the letters fell off the conference stage backdrop behind her.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said that while many MPs wanted her to stay as leader, there were "emerging plots" as some Tory MPs tried to gather support to approach Mrs May privately and persuade her to stand aside. But the group would only act if it had the numbers to do so.The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said that while many MPs wanted her to stay as leader, there were "emerging plots" as some Tory MPs tried to gather support to approach Mrs May privately and persuade her to stand aside. But the group would only act if it had the numbers to do so.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd told the Telegraph: "We, Theresa May's government, want to... set out a better path, one that actually leads to a prosperous, secure and united country. We can do that and we will under her leadership. She should stay."Home Secretary Amber Rudd told the Telegraph: "We, Theresa May's government, want to... set out a better path, one that actually leads to a prosperous, secure and united country. We can do that and we will under her leadership. She should stay."
But former minister Ed Vaizey told the BBC on Thursday: "I think there will be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign."But former minister Ed Vaizey told the BBC on Thursday: "I think there will be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign."