'Enough is enough!' Tory mutiny BEGINS as Rishi Sunak hit by first no-confidence letter after Braverman sacking
Rishi Sunak has been hit with his first no-confidence letter since sacking Suella Braverman this morning
PA
Rishi Sunak has been hit with his first no-confidence letter since sacking Suella Braverman this morning.
In a scathing letter to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, Andrea Jenkyns blasted the Prime Minister for “getting rid of our democratically elected leader Boris Johnson”, saying: “Enough is enough”.
The Morley & Outwood MP wrote: “If it wasn’t bad enough that we have a party leader that the party members rejected, the polls demonstrate that the public reject him, and I am in full agreement. It is time for Rishi Sunak to go.
She said that forcing Boris Johnson out was “unforgivable enough”, but “to purge the centre-right from his cabinet and then sack Suella who was the only person in the cabinet with the balls to speak the truth of the appalling state of our streets and a two-tier policing system that leaves Jewish community in fear for their lives and safety.”
WATCH: Christopher Hope discusses Suella Braverman
Dame Andrea said she submitted her no confidence letter in Sunak “to stand up and fight for true Conservatism”.
Sunak conducted a major reshuffle of his Cabinet today, which saw Braverman sacked by the Prime Minister early this morning.
This came just days after she published an unauthorised Op-Ed criticising the police.
The Home Secretary was replaced by moderate James Cleverly.
Andrea Jenkyns
PAFormer Prime Minister David Cameron has been brought back into Government to replace Cleverly as Foreign Secretary in a shock move by Sunak.
The reshuffle also saw Environment Secretary Therese Coffey step down, saying in her letter it is time to “step back”, with former Health Secretary Steve Barclay replacing her.
Victoria Atkins has stepped into Barclay's old role in the Department of Health, while Richard Holden has replaced Greg Hands as party chairman.
David Cameron was appointed the new Foreign Secretary in a surprising move by Rishi SunakPAMany MPs in the right-wing of the party are understood to be furious about the reshuffle.
A source told GB News: “They are doing what each of the last two Prime Ministers have done. They have gone into bunker mode and surrounded themselves by all the same wing of the party.
“The problem is that they think we need to go centre ground but that is not going to help win a very difficult general election where we need to show dividing lines with Labour.”
The Tory insider also warned silence from hardline Conservative MPs should concern Sunak.
Suella Braverman was sacked as Home SecretaryPA“I think radio silence from the right should worry Number 10 more than Jenkyns letter,” they warned.
However, the source went on to suggest the right will now look to prepare launching leadership bids after the next general election.
“The focus for the ‘right’ will now be on the aftermath and who will position themselves as the best opposition leader to take over after this mess,” the European Research Group insider told GB News.
The Brexit-backing ERG has played a pivotal role in bringing down a number of Tory Prime Ministers, including Theresa May.
Members have also been among the most critical of Sunak, with many still voicing support for Braverman.
Sir Graham Brady addresses the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPsPABraverman won over around two dozen Eurosceptic Conservative MPs during her unsuccessful bid to replace Boris Johnson as Tory Party leader and Prime Minister last year.
Despite little appetite for a leadership election, it is possible Sunak could face a confidence vote ahead of the next general election.
The Prime Minister was immune from a leadership challenge until he completed his first 12 months in No 10 on October 24.
Brady would only have to hold a confidence vote if 53 out of 350 Tory MPs submit letters to the 1922 Committee chairman.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JACK WALTERS