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Theresa May sacking ministers 'would get MPs' support' | Theresa May sacking ministers 'would get MPs' support' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Theresa May would have the backing of Tory MPs if she sacked disloyal ministers for plotting and briefing, a senior backbencher says. | Theresa May would have the backing of Tory MPs if she sacked disloyal ministers for plotting and briefing, a senior backbencher says. |
Charles Walker, vice-chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, told ministers to "stop chattering away". | |
Earlier the prime minister told her cabinet to show "strength and unity" as she attempted to stem recent leaks. | |
And Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon called for the military virtues of "loyalty, cohesion and discipline". | |
Speaking at an event organised by the Policy Exchange think tank on Tuesday evening, Sir Michael urged the cabinet to "concentrate their fire" on Jeremy Corbyn, whom he described as a "dangerous enemy in reach of Downing Street". | |
At the same time, he said his party needed to make traditional Conservative arguments for "lower taxation, for honest public financing, for wider opportunity, enterprise and ownership". | |
Mrs May's attempt to instil discipline follows a sustained outbreak of cabinet leaks and leadership gossip. | |
Number 10 said press briefings were a case of colleagues not taking their responsibilities seriously. | Number 10 said press briefings were a case of colleagues not taking their responsibilities seriously. |
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Walker said that aside from a few "outliers", the party was united behind Mrs May - adding that those plotting were "not doing themselves any favours at all". | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Walker said that aside from a few "outliers", the party was united behind Mrs May - adding that those plotting were "not doing themselves any favours at all". |
"I do not care about people's personal ambitions," he said. | "I do not care about people's personal ambitions," he said. |
"If the prime minister has to start removing secretaries of state because they are not focusing on their job, they are focusing on their own personal ambitions, so be it. | |
"And she will have the support of the 1922 Committee." | |
According to her spokesman, the PM told cabinet at its regular Tuesday meeting: "There's a need to show strength and unity as a country and that starts around the cabinet table." | According to her spokesman, the PM told cabinet at its regular Tuesday meeting: "There's a need to show strength and unity as a country and that starts around the cabinet table." |
On Monday she told Tory MPs to end the "backbiting" over disagreements within the party. | On Monday she told Tory MPs to end the "backbiting" over disagreements within the party. |
At a summer reception for backbench Tory MPs on the House of Commons terrace on Monday, Mrs May told the party "no backbiting, no carping". | At a summer reception for backbench Tory MPs on the House of Commons terrace on Monday, Mrs May told the party "no backbiting, no carping". |
The choice, she said, is "me or Jeremy Corbyn... and nobody wants that". | The choice, she said, is "me or Jeremy Corbyn... and nobody wants that". |
Go away over the summer for a "proper break", she told MPs, and "come back ready for serious business". | Go away over the summer for a "proper break", she told MPs, and "come back ready for serious business". |
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said media reports of splits and negative briefings did not reflect her experience in cabinet. | Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said media reports of splits and negative briefings did not reflect her experience in cabinet. |
Hostile briefings | |
She said Mrs May was "absolutely right" to tell ministers that "what is said in the cabinet should stay in the cabinet". | She said Mrs May was "absolutely right" to tell ministers that "what is said in the cabinet should stay in the cabinet". |
The PM's plea to her party for unity comes after she lost her Commons majority when her snap general election gamble backfired. | The PM's plea to her party for unity comes after she lost her Commons majority when her snap general election gamble backfired. |
Hostile briefings in the press over the weekend appeared to show a growing rift in the cabinet. | Hostile briefings in the press over the weekend appeared to show a growing rift in the cabinet. |
On Sunday, Chancellor Philip Hammond suggested colleagues opposed to his approach to Brexit had been briefing against him, following press reports of his cabinet remarks on public sector pay. | On Sunday, Chancellor Philip Hammond suggested colleagues opposed to his approach to Brexit had been briefing against him, following press reports of his cabinet remarks on public sector pay. |
During Treasury questions in the Commons, Mr Hammond dismissed Lord Heseltine's claim - raised by Labour - that he was "enfeebled". | During Treasury questions in the Commons, Mr Hammond dismissed Lord Heseltine's claim - raised by Labour - that he was "enfeebled". |
"I don't feel particularly enfeebled," he said. | "I don't feel particularly enfeebled," he said. |