Senior Conservatives’ attempts to dissuade David Cameron from his plan to quit as Prime Minister show the party is in “chaos”, it has been claimed.
As revealed by The Courier, Cabinet ministers will try to stop their leader following through on his decision to step down before the 2020 general election.
It follows a tough couple of weeks for the UK Government during which George Osborne previously the favourite to step up suffered a major blow to his chances, making multiple U-turns on a Budget which was roundly criticised.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who is close to Mr Cameron, refused to respond when asked if she would back him staying on as leader.
SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie said: “Following another disastrous Budget, with Government ministers quitting and with civil war breaking out over the EU referendum, it is clear that the Tories are now in crisis.
“With David Cameron’s heir apparent, George Osborne, having blown any remaining credibility he had on the economy and with it his chances of succeeding the Prime Minister senior Tories must truly be in a state of panic and desperation if they think that begging David Cameron to stay on as Tory leader is the solution to anything.
“Whoever replaces the Tory leader needs to make huge changes to the party, including ditching its economically illiterate obsession with austerity and its predilection with the nasty party policies of the past including its cuts to the disabled and vulnerable to pay for tax breaks for the rich.”
Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell also piled in on the back of the revelation that ministers believe the PM is a unifying figure within the Conservatives, unlike Mr Osborne, despite the party being publicly divided over Europe.
He said: “It’s clear that many even on the Tory benches now think George Osborne shouldn’t be Chancellor anymore.
“As every day passes the Tories are more interested in fighting each other and putting their party’s interests first instead of those of our country.”
Speculation has been flowing over who might replace Mr Cameron since last May’s Conservative majority was returned but some in Cabinet believe “he can be persuaded” to stay on.