Cabinet ministers 'expect Theresa May to quit in November'
2 min read
Several of Theresa May's Cabinet colleagues believe she will have stepped down as Prime Minister by the end of the year, it has emerged.
A senior minister told The Times that their was "no way" she could win another challenge to her leadership once the current grace period under Tory party rules expires.
Mrs May was challenged in a Conservative vote of no confidence late last year, handing her an extra year in the job during which time she cannot be removed from post.
But one Cabinet source told the paper: "There’s no way she’ll win that vote when it happens again. That’s the view of lots of colleagues."
Another said Mrs May would need a “survival strategy” when facing her colleagues at the Conservative party conference this September, with any suggestion of a Brexit delay likely to trigger anger among MPs.
However, The Times cites support for Mrs May staying in post among some Cabinet colleagues, fearing the disruption to ongoing Brexit talks that would be caused by a leadership challenge.
One minister, who initially backed Remain and now supports a soft Brexit, said: "An alternative leader is likely to have more Brexit-inclined views because of the membership and would rip up what’s already been agreed."
They added: "The best thing would be for her to stay in position to negotiate round two of Brexit," they added.
The comments come after Mrs May’s former chief aide Nick Timothy told a BBC Two documentary that Prime Minister sees Brexit as a "damage limitation exercise", and accused her and fellow ministers being unable to "fully realise the economic opportunities of leaving".
And he warned that mishandling of Brexit was "opening up space for a populist right-wing party".
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