Tory MPs ‘could quit party’ if Boris Johnson becomes PM – as Theresa May enters Brexit ‘death zone’

Leading moderate Rory Stewart suggested he could ditch the Tories if Boris Johnson were leader

TORY MPs could QUIT the party if Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister, the Brexiteer was warned today.

Theresa May fears she is entering "the death zone" where leadership rivals will ramp up their campaign to kick her out of office.

Boris is the favourite to replace her - but some MPs are threatening to storm out of the party if he does become the next PM.

Leading moderate Rory Stewart, the Prisons Minister, today suggested he would quit if Mr Johnson adopted a hard Brexit strategy.

Asked if he could stay in the party under Boris, Mr Stewart told the BBC: "I would find that difficult if he were campaigning for a No Deal Brexit.

"Becoming a hard Brexit party isn't just about Brexit, it carries with it a whole series of statements about polarising extreme right-wing politics.

"I'd find it very difficult to stay, I'd have to look at what he was doing.

"The important thing is to have moral principles and for me the red line is campaigning for a No Deal Brexit."

Previously Europhile MPs such as Dominic Grieve have said they'd resign if Boris became leader.

Mrs May is braced for a challenge after Thursday's local elections, which are likely to see the Tories suffer heavy losses.

No10 insiders have dubbed the three-week period between local polls and the European Parliament elections "the death zone", .

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