Rishi Sunak is facing Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday as the Tories threaten to be consumed by yet another round of infighting.
The Commons showdown follows former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke’s dramatic call for Mr Sunak to be replaced as leader to avoid a Conservative “massacre” at the general election.
Writing in the Telegraph, former levelling up secretary Sir Simon insisted “extinction is a very real possibility” for the party if Mr Sunak leads it into the election this year.
The move sparked an immediate backlash with Home Secretary James Cleverly saying it would be “foolish” to have further dissent within the party.
Former defence secretary Ben Wallace dismissed Sir Simon’s call to oust Mr Sunak, saying “division and another PM would lead to the certain loss of power”.