Tory rebel MPs submit letters of no confidence Rishi Sunakin a desperate attempt to prevent the breakup General election.
According to the report from GB News' political editor, a senior Tory MP has warned that today's announcement is “not irrevocable”, and suggested there is still time to stage a coup to oust the government. Rishi Sunak.
Earlier today it was reported that Tory MPs had indeed submitted letters of no confidence to the chairman of the 1922 committee, Sir Graham Brady, before Mr Sunak's Downing Street announcement.
Now a senior MP has told Chris Hope: “Today has clearly been an absolute disaster, but the election is NOT irrevocable; to the point of dissolving parliament – when the writs are moved to start the election, it can still be aborted.
“In other words, if enough Tory MPs, who are clearly set to lose their seats in this already utterly shambolic campaign, write to Sir Graham Brady tomorrow, the election could still be annulled tomorrow.”
Asked about the report, a Tory rebel source confirmed the analysis is legally true, but it is up to MPs whether they detonate a political bomb under No 10.
They said MPs must decide whether they “think Rishi is a winner, or whether it is so bad that they should postpone the election and take a chance that someone else would do a better job”.
However, a 1922 committee source told the Express that the plan is “crazy and impractical.”
Earlier today, amid swirling election rumours, a senior Tory MP described the atmosphere in the tea room as “panic” amid an expected general election announcement.
A leading Tory Brexiteer said an election now would be 'madness'. “Everyone was shocked,” said another source.
At least three MPs have submitted letters today, reports show.
Fifteen percent of Conservative MPs must submit a letter before the party holds a leadership election – which would mean 54 letters would be needed.
They are sent to Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory MPs.
Most MPs understood that the Prime Minister would hold a general election in the autumn.
There have been previous reports that the Prime Minister has been the subject of letters of no confidence during his time in office, but these have never reached the level sufficient to trigger a vote.
At today's crucial Cabinet meeting to approve the snap election, only two ministers raised concerns: Cabinet Office minister Esther McVey and Northern Ireland minister Chris Heaton-Harris.
However, one cabinet representative admitted to the Express that opposition to the decision may be more widespread, but there was no point in objecting to the election as the decision had already been made by Number 10.