Rishi Sunak's allies rage at Penny Mordaunt after she fails to quash rumours of ... trends now
Rishi Sunak will launch a political fightback tomorrow as he tries to persuade plotting Tory MPs that the economy is poised to 'bounce back' under his leadership.
The Prime Minister will use a speech in the Midlands to try to shift the political debate on to the economy after a bruising week which triggered speculation he could be deposed before the election.
Allies of the Prime Minister are furious with Commons leader Penny Mordaunt after she failed to publicly distance herself from weekend reports that she is being lined up as a potential unity candidate to replace Mr Sunak.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper warned plotters that politics was a 'team game' – and insisted that Mr Sunak will lead the party into the election. 'I'm going to be supporting him all the way through, and I'm confident that my colleagues will,' he said.
Tory grandees also appealed for calm, with Sir Iain Duncan Smith telling the party to 'stop turning inwards on ourselves'.
Rishi Sunak will launch a political fightback as he tries to persuade plotting Tory MPs that the economy is poised to 'bounce back' under his leadership
Allies of the PM are furious with Penny Mordaunt after she failed to publicly distance herself from reports that she is being lined up as a potential unity candidate to replace Mr Sunak
Rebel MPs are targeting the May bank holiday for a potential push against the Prime Minister if the Conservatives take a drubbing in the local elections on May 2. One source said it would be the 'May Day from Hell' for Mr Sunak.
Senior Conservatives acknowledge there is widespread dismay at the party's standing in the polls, but insist that active plotting is confined to a 'small minority'. Mr Sunak will attempt to fight back tomorrow by saying the UK economy is 'turning a corner'.
Later, the Government will take the fight to Labour over the Rwanda Bill as it tries to overturn a series of wrecking amendments passed with the help of Sir Keir Starmer's peers in the House of Lords.
The PM is also considering making a direct appeal to MPs at a meeting of backbenchers in Parliament on Wednesday.
One government source said Mr Sunak would 'put the pedal to the metal' as he tries to draw a line under a damaging week which saw the headlines dominated by the defection of former deputy chairman Lee Anderson to Reform and a row over the botched response to racist remarks by Tory donor Frank Hester.
The PM will tomorrow unveil plans to boost apprenticeships, including £60 million funding and cuts to red tape to make it easier for small firms to take on trainees.
But he will also make the case that the Government's economic plan is starting to bear fruit – and urge both the public and his colleagues to stick with it.
The PM will acknowledge that 'the last
