Cabinet allies of Theresa May 'expect PM to be finished within weeks'
2 min read
Cabinet ministers loyal to Theresa May have given up hope for the Prime Minister and believe she will have to step aside in the coming weeks, it has been reported.
Close allies, including her de-facto deputy David Lidington and her leadership campaign chair Chris Grayling, have come to the conclusion she will never get a Brexit deal passed in the Commons, according to the Sunday Times.
Mrs May has failed to strike a Brexit agreement with the Labour party despite weeks of talks, while her restless backbenchers and the Tory grassroots have been increasing the pressure on her to quit.
Loyal Cabinet ministers expect her to be ousted in the wake of the European Parliament elections on 23 May and before senior Tory officials meet on 15 June to deliver a vote of no confidence in her leadership.
One said: “It feels like this is going to end in tears very quickly. The parliamentary party wants her to go, the voluntary party wants her to go, the cabinet doesn’t believe she can survive. My view is her time probably is up.”
The paper added that Chief Whip Julian Smith, Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and Communities Secretary James Brokenshire are also among those who believe it's time for her to quit.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox meanwhile is said to be poised to quit his job if Mrs May agrees a deal with the Labour party that would keep the UK in a customs union with the EU.
Elsewhere, the Sun on Sunday reports that senior Tory backbenchers will tell the PM a leadership contest must start within weeks to ensure the finalists can duke it out at hustings events over the summer recess.
Chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady said this weekend that Mrs May will have to spell out her departure date to top figures when she meets them this week.
It comes as a bombshell poll showed the new Brexit Party led by Nigel Farage in the lead for the first time in Westminster voting intention, with 20% compared with 19% for the Tories.
It means the ex-Ukip leader could secure 49 seats at a general election, with the Tories on 179 and Labour able to form a minority government with 316.
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