Liz Truss has come under fire from both allies and opponents in the Conservative Party, and Tory MPs are now debating who should replace her, with former cabinet minister Grant Shapps warning that if polls do not improve, they will “find a way” to oust her.
If Liz Truss’ government falls apart, Tory MPs want Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to act as an “emergency Prime Minister” to see them through to the next election.
The popular minister is said to be the favourite on a shortlist of three as Ms Truss battles to keep control of her party, with MPs openly claiming she has “10 days to save her Premiership.”
Conservative MPs have begun deliberations on who should succeed as Prime Minister, and have identified three potential candidates.
Mr Wallace, who is well-liked in the party but chose not to run for the leadership this summer, instead supporting Ms Truss, is at the top of a shortlist that also includes failed leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt.
Michael Gove has been ruled out as being “too toxic,” while some want Boris Johnson to return just weeks after being forced out, but believe it would be “too soon.”
MPs hope that if Ms Truss is forced to resign, they can agree on a single candidate to declare leader “by acclamation” without having to go back to the membership for another lengthy vote.
It comes as the Prime Minister faces criticism from all sides at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham ahead of her “make or break” keynote speech tomorrow.