Tory ministers demand Theresa May sacks Boris or face a challenge for top job
TORY ministers were at each other’s throats yesterday as the phoney leadership war took exploded into the open
TORY ministers were at each other’s throats yesterday as the phoney leadership war took exploded into the open.
They piled pressure on Theresa May to sack the Boris Johnson – or face an early challenge herself.
She was not even aware of its contents and was only given a brief tip off moments before it was public.
Mrs May told The Sun on Sunday: “I can’t honestly remember the timeline about when I heard that something was afoot.
“I did know in advance that he was writing something – but I didn’t know what he was writing.”
The “Stop Boris” camp see the Foreign Secretary’s outspoken demands for a “glorious Brexit” as a naked bid to become next leader.
One minister declared yesterday: “Either she sacks Boris or she goes. It’s that simple.”
But Mr Johnson’s pals dismissed it as a dirty bid by his enemies to pave the way for their own leadership candidate.
An ally said: “Everything Boris has written or said in the past week was in line with the Prime Minister’s big speech in Florence.”
Bojo insists the transition period is “not a second more” than the two years announced by Mrs May.
He wants no payments for single market access after the transition ends, and an end to shadowing EU rules or accepting rulings from the European Court of Justice.
Cabinet in-fighting hit a fever pitch as senior Conservatives gathered for their annual rally in Manchester last night.
Rivals called on Mr Johnson to “put a sock in it”.
Despite assurances from his allies, Downing Street is also wary of Mr Johnson’s motives and fear he may launch a “kamikaze” resignation.
A government source said: “Number 10 has Boris on suicide watch. They know he talked to friends about resigning in recent weeks and are not sure the moment of maximum danger has passed.”
Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson also waded in yesterday calling for “serious people” to take charge of Brexit as she renewed her attack on Mr Johnson.
Channel 4 documentary Blond Ambition will tonight claim Boris thinks he has one more shot at the top job.
It will say he does not believe Mrs May will survive until Brexit in 2019.
RUTH TALKS ON LEADER
SCOTTISH Tory chief Ruth Davidson held private leadership talks with former prime ministers.
Ms Davidson, tipped as a future leader, revealed they followed June’s general election disaster.
The discussions were with David Cameron and Sir John Major as well as former Chancellor George Osborne.
Ms Davidson said: “There was a lot of discussion about who could win future elections.”