DEFIANT RISHI
Rishi Sunak tells warring Tories to hold their nerve as he predicts Britain will ‘bounce back’ in 2024
Mr Sunak can be forced out if 53 Tory MPs send in no confidence letters
RISHI Sunak has told warring Tories to hold their nerve — as 2024 is the year the economy will turn a corner and Britain “bounces back”.
The PM’s fightback comes as plotters warn the “herd is now moving” against his leadership.
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Senior figures are scrambling to find a viable new PM after a poll warned Labour could have a 250-seat majority following a general election.
Ahead of a speech at a small business conference, the PM said: “There is a real sense that the economy is turning a corner with all the economic indicators pointing in the right direction.
“This year, 2024, will be the year Britain bounces back.”
But rebels claim his days are numbered after weeks of “unforced errors and poor judgment”.
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His MPs on the Right and Left have been holding secret talks to replace him with Penny Mordaunt.
Sources scrambled to distance her from the plot but a senior Tory said she is “organising in earnest”.
It was understood Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is also on manoeuvres.
But a source insisted he thinks it would be “bonkers” to change leader.
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However, a veteran backbencher said: “Since the Budget failed to lift morale, the mood has shifted — the backbench herd is moving.”
A former cabinet minister believes the local elections on May 2 “may be the trigger”.
Mr Sunak can be forced out only if 53 Tory MPs send in no-confidence letters and he loses a confidence vote of his parliamentary party.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper yesterday backed the PM, telling Sky News he’ll lead the Tories into the election.
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