Angry Tory MPs hit out at Theresa May’s ‘unnecessary’ snap election as they fear Lib Dem fightback will see them lose seats

SHOCKED and angry Tory MPs in marginal seats have hit out at an “unnecessary” early election.

As Lib Dem boss Tim Farron vowed to put Brexit back the ballot paper, one Tory MP accused the Prime Minister of “poking the hornet’s nest” amid fears of a yellow surge.

While the “lines to take” script given to Tory MPs urged them to publicly welcome the snap ballot, privately there was anger at the decision.

West-country Conservatives — who routed the Lib Dems from the south-west in 2015 — are particularly concerned that the fresh vote give the pro-EU party a foothold in the region.

Concerned Cornwall and Devon MPs recently warned Downing Street directly that they risked a wipe out from angry Remain-backers switching back to the Lib Dems that could see a dozen Tory losses at an early poll.

One Conservative MP defending a wafer thin majority said “having given it my all both physically and financially just 22 months ago, frankly I am surprised and nervous.”

Tory MP Nigel Hiddleston told Sky News that he was “surprised” by the the PM’s announcement this morning, and added that “backbenchers had not been given any heads up that this was happening”.

Another MP told the Sun: “I’m fine but others are going to have a bloody slog and - whether or not we make gains elsewhere - we will be thanking a few colleagues for their short service since 2015.”

And another warned the early poll was “not exactly necessary” but added “there’s not much we can do about it now.”

Meanwhile a delighted Lib Dem leader Tim Farron declared “only the Lib Democrats can prevent a Conservative majority.”

Speaking from Truro in Cornwall, Mr Farron said his party had seen an “increase in membership that’s almost double.”

And he boasted that there is a “great energy down here” for Britain’s third party.

But former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith hit back that the the Lib Dem’s “time had been and gone” in the region.

The ex-Cabinet Minister added: “I have get the sense my colleagues in the south-west will get on and have a very strong election down there.”

An more hopeful Tory MPs pointed out to solid Leave vote in the region, despite recent council by-election gains in the region.

The Lib Dem have won 33 seats since May 2016 local elections, many of them in the south-west.

And they were also hopeful of a return in London where three former Coalition ministers who lost their seats in 2015 threw their hats in the ring for a comeback.

Ex-Business Secretary Vince Cable, ex-Energy Secretary Ed Davey and ex-Justice Minister Simon Hughes vowed to contest their old seats — declaring “bring it on.”

Last night Tory party grandee Sir Malcolm Rifkind described the PM’s decision as a “manageable risk but it’s there.”

And the ex-Foreign Secretary warned the Lib Dems could “make a revival at the expense of some Conservatives.”