Boris Johnson orders Tories to ‘get behind’ Theresa May, adding that the public are ‘fed up’ with plot to oust the PM
Foreign Secretary shared his message on a WhatsApp group used by Conservative politicians to slam plot leader Grant Shapps.
BORIS Johnson has urged Conservative MPs to support Theresa May after a plot to oust her became public.
The foreign secretary posted the message on a private WhatsApp group used by Tory politicians but it was leaked last night.
In it he said: "We have JUST HAD AN ELECTION and people are fed up with all this malarkey.
"Get behind the PM. Ordinary punters I have spoken to thought her speech was good and anyone can have a cold.
"Circle the wagons, turn the fire on Corbyn, and talk about nothing except our great policies and what we can do for the country."
The message comes after a plot to remove Theresa May from Downing Street became public knowledge yesterday.
The effort was being spearhead by former Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps who said he had the support of some 30 MPs.
He said that the rebel group wanted her to call a leadership election but did not support any particular candidate.
Other senior Tories calling on their colleagues to support the PM includes May's one-time leadership rival Andrea Leadsom and Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson.
Davidson, who like Johnson is tipped as a potential leader of the party, urged rebellious MPs to "settle down" while Leadsom told plot ringleader Grant Shapps to "shut up".
Calls have been made for Johnson to be sacked from his post after he was accused of undermining her leadership following an article he published about his own vision for Britain after it leaves the European Union.
It was published the day before the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, which took place earlier this week, where he was also caught making offensive remarks about Libya who have been helping the coalition war on terror.
He said at an event in the city: "They literally have a vision to turn Sirte into the next Dubai - the only thing they have got to do is clear the dead bodies away and then they will be there."
Mr Shapps was added to the WhatsApp group after his plot became public so he could read messages from colleagues condemning his efforts.
Leadsom, who ran for the party leadership in 2016, told the press: "I don't think that there's anything like 30 others and I think what Grant Shapps is doing is incredibly unhelpful.
"Like a lot of my colleagues have said today, [Shapps] should shut up."
John Redwood, who ran unsuccessfully against John Major, gave his support to the Prime Minister.
The Brexiteer said: "I do not support Mr Shapps in his view that we need a Conservative leadership election."
Boris Johnson's WhatsApp message
Folks I am away but just read all this!
See amber piece this am
She is right right right
We have JUST HAD AN ELECTION and people are fed up with all this malarkey
Get behind the pm. Ordinary punters I have spoken to thought her speech was good and anyone can have a cold
Circle the wagons turn the fire on Corbyn and talk about nothing except our great policies and what we can do for the country
He also cast doubt about the level of support Mr Shapps claimed to have, pointing out they had "not spoken out or let their names be known".
He added: "Unusually reticent rebels? Or they don't exist."
Davidson hit out at the plotters saying: "I think if the plotters were serious, they would be led by someone a bit more serious."
She added: "I have to say I've not got much time for them. I really don't think that having a bit of a cold... when you are trying to make a speech changes the fundamentals of whether Theresa May is the right person to lead the country.
"I think there's an awful lot of people in our party that need to settle down."
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