Theresa May swerves questions on ‘unsackable’ Boris Johnson and refuses to slap down his Brexit red lines in brutal Andrew Marr interview
The Prime Minister kicked off party conference in Manchester with an interview where she refused to say whether she would get rid of her Foreign Secretary, or comment on his Brexit calls
THERESA MAY was forced to swerve awkward questions on Boris Johnson's future in government this morning and then refused to slap down his Brexit demands.
In a tough interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, the Prime Minister repeatedly dodged question after question on her Foreign Secretary, our EU exit and the election.
The Prime Minister kicked off party conference in Manchester by laughing off suggestions that Mr Johnson was "unsackable".
Fuming Tory ministers are already calling for him to go as he continues the assault on the PM's leadership.
Newspaper reports today claimed Mr Johnson has said she doesn't have more than a year to go - and that she was a "slave" to her former advisers.
But Mrs May insisted this morning that the cabinet ARE united behind her - despite weeks of splits and outspoken comments.
She told the BBC: "What I have is a cabinet that are united in the… mission of this government. United in a mission to build a country that works for everyone.
"And agreed at the approach we took in Florence."
The Prime Minister had tried to start the party's conference with key announcements to win back younger voters - by promising to freeze fees and pump more money into the Help to Buy scheme.
PM celebrates 61st birthday with low-sugar cake decorated with leopard print shoe
DUTIFUL Theresa May cancelled her 61st birthday today to try and win back respect the party faithful.The PM all but ignored her big day – opting instead for a private eve-of-conference dinner with her husband Philip.
Her private staff sung her happy birthday and got her a low-sugar cake decorated with a leopard print shoe, Harry Cole writes.
The diabetic-friendly treat was organised by Culture Secretary and key ally Karen Bradley.
True blue Tory activists were last night planning a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday for Theresa May at a conference bash.
Mrs May was invited to raise a glass of English sparkling wine by Tory donor Lord Ashcroft.
And party chairman Sir Patrick Mcloughlin wished the PM a happy birthday from the conference stage.
When she was pressed about Boris's Brexit red lines as put forward to The Sun on Saturday - which included not paying a penny for access to the Single Market, she said: "Boris is absolutely behind the Florence speech."
"Is he unsackable?" Mr Marr asked the PM.
She replied: "Lets be very clear about what we have here in this government.
"A government determined to build a country that works for everyone."
The PM denied that calling the snap vote was a mistake - even though she went on to lose her majority. Mrs May admitted in an interview last week that the party were not prepared for it.
She said: "Is it ever a mistake to give people the opportunity to vote? I wanted to see a different result, I hoped it would be."
And she promised to "learn the lessons" of the vote and took her personal responsibility for it.
She added: "I am sorry that some very good members of parliament lost their seats.
"What you will hear from us is how we are going to move forward, and address the issues that are really important to people."
She took aim at Jeremy Corbyn again after he launched his socialist blueprint for Britain last week - vowing to bury capitalism.
"Corbyn can’t deliver," she insisted. "You can only do this is you have a balanced approach the economy
"What would Jeremy Corbyn do? He would wreck the economy."
Last week Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell admitted that Labour were prepared for a run on the pound if they got into power.