Rishi Sunak said he is “not interested in Westminster politics” and insisted his party is “united” as he brushed off rumours of a plot to oust him.
Asked during a visit to the West Midlands why he did not let one of his “disloyal colleagues” have the “poisoned chalice” of being prime minister, the Tory leader said: “I’m not interested in all Westminster politics. It doesn’t matter.”
Politics Live: Tory discontent brewing with Sunak
On why he could not get his Tory colleagues to “shut up” following negative briefings against him over the weekend, Mr Sunak said: “Conservatives are united in wanting to deliver a brighter future for our country.”
After listing tax cuts, state pension increases, and progress on tackling illegal migration as things that matter to people, the prime minister added: “We are absolutely united in delivering for the country on these important matters.”
Mr Sunak’s failure to turn around the Tories’ opinion poll deficit has fuelled speculation about Conservative MPs considering replacing him with Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt in an attempt to avoid a general election disaster.
The reports emerged after a particularly torrid week which saw the prime minister embroiled in a Tory donor race row and the defection of former deputy chairman Lee Anderson to the Reform party.
Mr Sunak sought to draw a line under the Frank Hester saga, amid continued questions on whether the government will hand back the £10m he donated last year, and if another £5m is in the pipeline.
Mr Hester is reported to have said that left-wing MP Diane Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot” – comments the prime minister said are “racist”.
Asked why his party would take another £5m from someone who he had said had made racist comments, Mr Sunak told reporters: “He’s already apologised for these comments.
“And my point of view is when someone apologises genuinely, expresses remorse – that should be accepted. And that’s that.”
The prime minister is seeking to shift the political debate to the gradually improving economic outlook as he tries to shore up his leadership.
At a business event in Warwickshire this morning, Mr Sunak gave an upbeat assessment of the nation’s finances and stressed the need to “stick to the plan”.
He faces another tough week with his Rwanda Bill returning to the Commons on Monday, when the government will seek to overturn peers’ amendments after it suffered 10 defeats in the upper chamber earlier this month.
A poll by Focaldata commissioned by the British Future think tank found majority public support for almost all of the changes proposed by the Lords to introduce extra safeguards.
The deportation policy also faces fresh criticism after Transport Secretary Mark Harper on Sunday failed to guarantee migrant flights will take off before the general election and reports that Kigali has insisted on a staggered approach to the implementation of the policy.
Mr Sunak today said he is “still committed to the timeline that I set out previously, which is we aim to get a flight off in the spring”.
With a host of problems on the prime minister’s in-tray, there has been rampant speculation he could call an early general election to prevent things getting worse and avoid a mutiny.
Having already ruled out going to the polls on 2 May, to coincide with the local elections, the prime minister was asked to confirm if a general election would be held in July or August.
However he refused to be drawn on when it could be called, saying: “I spoke about this last week and many times before.
“What matters is the choice at that election – the substance.”
Source Agencies
