Tory MP Sir Simon Clarke has called for Rishi Sunak to be replaced as Tory leader.
The former Cabinet minister last night warned the party faces being wiped out at the next general election under the PM, with Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer in power for a decade.
Writing in The Telegraph, he said: “The unvarnished truth is that Rishi Sunak is leading the Conservatives into an election where we will be massacred.”
The Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP said the former chancellor has “sadly gone from asset to anchor”.
He said: “And it is now beyond doubt that whilst the Prime Minister is far from solely responsible for our present predicament, his uninspiring leadership is the main obstacle to our recovery.”
Sir Simon said Mr Sunak has “two fundamental problems”, adding: “He does not get what Britain needs. And he is not listening to what the British people want.”
He said: “We have a clear choice. Stick with Rishi Sunak, take the inevitable electoral consequences, and give the Left a blank cheque to change Britain as they see fit.
“Or we can change leader, and give our country and party a fighting chance.”
But Sir Simon’s intervention prompted a backlash from senior Conservative MPs.
Home Secretary James Cleverly argued further dissent within the party would leave the door open for Sir Keir.
Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “At this critical time for our country, with challenges at home and abroad, our party must focus on the people we serve and deliver for the country.
“Engaging in facile and divisive self-indulgence only serves our opponents – it’s time to unite and get on with the job.”
Ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith insisted the party “should be focussing our attention on the risks of a Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer”.
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned that “division and another PM would lead to the certain loss of power”.
Former Brexit secretary Sir David Davis said: “The party and the country are sick and tired of MPs putting their own leadership ambitions ahead of the UK’s best interests.”
Sir Simon and former minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns are the only Tory MPs to have publicly called for Mr Sunak to go.
It would take 53 Conservative MPs submitting letters to the backbench 1922 Committee to trigger a confidence vote.
