'Unthinkable' Mordaunt ousting Sunak, says Rees-Mogg

Penny Mordaunt is seen as someone who can unite both sides of the Conservative Party if it decides to get rid of Rishi Sunak. Photo: Getty Images/Rasid Nejati Aslim

Penny Mordaunt will not become leader of the Conservative Party after the coronation, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has said.

Rishi Sunak has faced speculation about a possible Tory rebellion against his leadership, with The plotters are reportedly nominating the community leader as a potential replacement.

But Sir Jacob told Times Radio: «Penny Mordaunt is not going to become leader of the Conservative Party after the coronation. This idea is unthinkable.»

He also said he did not hold the Prime Minister «personally responsible» for the Conservative Party's falling position in the polls.

«In Rishi Sunak's defence, it is quite difficult for a leader at this stage of his leadership to be significantly more popular than the party because the two things are quite closely identified, and the Conservative Party's popularity fell before Rishi Sunak did, so I wouldn't put the blame on he has personal responsibility,” added the former leader of the House of Commons.

“I think we have been in power for a long time and I agree with you that changing leadership is not helping. As you may remember, I was not in favor of Boris Johnson's removal, but it happened and parties need to deal with the current situation, not what could have been.»

Labor has an average lead of around 20 points in the polls, adding to Conservative concerns in a general election year.

Ben Wallace said it was “too late” to replace Mr Sunak, while the Tories said election candidates should “march to the sound of gunfire”.

“We just have to come to terms with it and that's why I think Ben Wallace's advice is wise and we should listen to it.”

He said: “I think Rishi Sunak is an honest, decent and intelligent man.» that does its job effectively. Times seem to be against him now, but things used to change.”

Lucy Fraser, the Cabinet Office minister, said Mr Sunak was «the right man to lead the country» in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live: «We have a lot of great talent on the backbenches, but the Prime Minister I worked with when he was chancellor, and obviously I'm now in the cabinet, I think he's doing an outstanding job.

“He's full of honesty. He has an actionable plan that is already being implemented, and he has enormous knowledge of economics. So I think he is absolutely the right man to lead the country and he has shown that he can deliver in all areas, but importantly on this key issue.»

Michael Howard, former leader Conservatives, called on Sunak's critics to «stand together». He said the party could still win the next election and told Times Radio: «My message to all Conservative colleagues is to support the Prime Minister, who I think is doing a wonderful job in very difficult circumstances.»

< p>“Theresa May started the 2019 election with a 20-point lead in the opinion polls, but it evaporated within three weeks of her campaign. So we've seen opinion polls change, and they can change. The Prime Minister deserves support and we can turn things around and win this election.”

Ms Mordaunt told reporters she was «continuing her work» when asked on Tuesday morning whether she supported She is the Prime Minister.

Reports over the weekend suggested she was being put forward as a unity candidate acceptable to both moderate and right-wing Tories if Mr Sunak faces a vote of no confidence.

John Curtis, political expert pollster and professor of political science at the University of Strathclyde, said it would be «very, very difficult» for Ms Mordaunt to change the polls if she became leader of the Conservative Party.

«None of these potential challengers — Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch or whoever — are extremely well known to the public,» he said. «Frankly, a poll that says how you would vote if x became leader is probably , is worth nothing. Then you have to make a guess.

“Do you really think that if, say, for the sake of argument, Penny Mordaunt took office in June that she would be able to so radically change the way the government is run, the way it is seen in the public eye?” to the public, how it's being marketed to the public, that there's going to be a turnaround in the opinion polls?

“It's going to be a very, very difficult task. Nothing is impossible in politics. But, of course, anyone who aspires to fill the role if Mr Sunak is ousted will surely have to be aware that he may indeed end up with an extremely short Prime Minister.