Tory MPs intend to replace Rishi Sunak with Penny Mordaunt in a last desperate attempt to avoid defeat in the general election due to be held in the second half of the year, according to The Independent.
They have hatched a “100 Days to Save Britain” plan that would see Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council, also best known for wielding a ceremonial sword during the King’s coronation, become Prime Minister.
The idea is presumably in response to fears that the party could suffer huge losses in this week’s local elections. The unease has grown especially since former health minister and incumbent GP Dan Poulter switched to the Labour party. Poulter announced he was leaving the Tory party, saying it was no longer prioritising the overstretched National Health Service.
The Tories argue that if House of Commons leader Ms Mordaunt takes power and launches a series of right-wing initiatives on tax, immigration and other issues, it could prevent Labour winning the election later this year.
“The reality is that we are facing an extinction-level event. It’s for colleagues to decide if they want to go down with the ship,” according to one Tory party member.
Despite, Ms Mordaunt is known to have said speculation about her is untrue. While mainstream Conservatives say a lurch to the right would make the party even less popular and point out that as well as winning applause for her impressive style at the coronation, she lacks political skills.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps warned Tory MPs against removing Sunak and said the Prime Minister should be left to get on with his job. He added: “There was never an instruction book to get these difficult things and actually steer us through a difficult course.”
The general election will be held in October or November, although there is increasing speculation that the contest could take place as early as July. In addition, the Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to specify when the general election will be held, promising to hold it only in the second half of 2024. The latest possible election date is 28 January 2025, meaning the vote could potentially be postponed for another eight months.
Therefore, failure in the mayoral and city council elections on 2 May could either cast doubt on his leadership or convince him that an earlier polling day may be a better solution than limping along with a divided party.
The Tories are expected to lose around half their council seats in less than a week’s time, while two of their best-known regional mayors face an uphill struggle. The defeat of West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen could lead to the prime minister facing a vote of no confidence, which would require 52 Tory MPs, analysts said.
There were rumours in Westminster on Friday that Sunak could start campaigning as early as Monday in a bid to stave off a possible challenge from restless MPs, although Downing Street brushed them off.
Earlier this week, Rishi Sunak tried to cement his premiership with a flurry of statements, including a law on asylum in Rwanda and a pledge to spend 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2030. The growing speculation comes amid the Conservatives trailing by 21 points in opinion polls. A number of polls have shown the party heading towards electoral oblivion, with even Sunak at risk of losing his seat.
