Boris Johnson calls on mutinous fellow Tory MPs to stop plotting to dump Theresa May
Foreign Secretary pledges his own loyalty to the beleaguered PM telling ministers to 'get a grip'
BORIS Johnson today calls for an end to Tory plotting to oust rocking Theresa May, telling mutinous MPs to “get a grip”.
Writing for The Sun, the Foreign Secretary pledges his own loyalty to the beleaguered PM, for now.
The mop-haired senior Tory also insists there shouldn’t be another general election this year after last week’s calamitous result for the Tories — as voters are “fed up to the back teeth” with politicians and politics.
But Boris also lays down strong terms for Mrs May to keep his backing.
In a carefully worded article, he also insists there must be “no backsliding” on the Brexit deal terms that he PM set out in January.
And Mrs May must deliver for angry voters on the NHS, schools and housing.
Boris writes: “The people of Britain have had a bellyful of promises and politicking.
“Now is the time for delivery — and Theresa May is the right person to continue that vital work.”
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As her most popular heir apparent, Boris’s powerful intervention will draw an end to the frenzied leadership speculation sparked by the disastrous election result three days ago – at least for the summer.
In his article, Boris reveals his message to Tory plotters trying to immediately oust her is: “Come off it. Get a grip, everyone”.
He also heaps praise on the PM for pushing the party’s share of the vote above 42 per cent “for the first time in decades”, as well as “inspiring” 13.7m people to vote Conservative – dubbing it “the biggest total tally since Margaret Thatcher”.
Branding it “a stunning achievement”, Boris adds: “She deserves the support of her party. And she will certainly get it from me”.
Laying down his terms for his continuing support for the PM, Boris puts the Brexit package drawn up before the election as top of his list.
As other Cabinet figures demand Mrs May softens her demands, Mr Johnson insists: “There can be no backsliding from the objectives the PM set out in the campaign — taking back control of our laws, our borders, our cash”.
He also lays out three demands on domestic policy, in a bitter implicit criticism of the PM’s woeful election campaign.
Boris adds: “If the election taught us one thing it is that it was not just about Brexit.
“We all heard the same anxieties during the campaign; about the NHS, about funding for schools, about the cost and shortage of housing”.
A new Tory leader would want to go back to the country to get a majority to govern with.
But as The Sun revealed on Saturday, Tory grandees are desperate not to have another general election soon as they fear jubilant Labour boss Jeremy Corbyn would win it.
It was rumoured that five Cabinet members have urged Boris to topple Mrs May.
Brexit Secretary David Davis is also expected to make a leadership bid when time is eventually called on Mrs May – likely to be at some stage next year.
Home secretary Amber Rudd will also be pushed to run to represent Tory moderates’ Remainer wing.
