Furious Tory MPs have criticised the “lack of leadership” displayed by the Cabinet by their refusal to step down and remove Boris Johnson.
After suffering two humiliating by-election losses last week, pressure is mounting on top Cabinet members to oppose the Prime Minister, raising concerns that the Conservatives may lose the next general election.
On Monday, Mr. Johnson further infuriated backbenchers by asserting that the confidence vote he had survived three weeks prior had given him a fresh mandate to lead the party.
One seasoned Tory targeted those who are rumoured to have ambitions to succeed Johnson, including Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, and Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
“There are members of the Cabinet who have appointed their own leadership campaign teams but are refusing to do anything,” the source stated.
“None of them have shown any leadership when it comes down to it. And when it does come to a leadership contest they will be told that they have shown no leadership at all. Whoever takes over has to come from outside of the Cabinet, because they have been so weak.”
“None of them seems willing to do what is needed for the good of the party,” a Tory MP from the 2019 intake added. Without it, this [leadership threat] isn’t going anywhere any time soon.”
Last night, rumours circulated that a rebel group of 2019 MPs would meet today to coordinate plans to depose Mr Johnson.
However, such is the breakdown in trust between No 10 and sections of the party that one 2019 Tory suggested the meeting was being briefed by Mr Johnson’s aides because “it is in No 10’s interest to create a bogeyman.”
The MP said the Prime Minister’s comments about staying in power went down “poorly” with colleagues, while other 2019 candidates are being offered government jobs in exchange for supporting the PM.
To change leaders, senior Conservatives are now urging junior members of the government to resign.