Johnny Mercer slams Cabinet Ministers for plotting bids to replace PM while urging backbenchers to support her
A FURIOUS TORY MP last night slammed Cabinet Ministers for plotting leadership bids – while urging backbenchers to support the PM.
The former army officer and up-and-coming Tory Johnny Mercer ripped into the duplicity.
And he separately appeared to attack the Chancellor after Philip Hammond claimed the confidence vote would flush out Brexit-supporting ‘extremists’.
Mr Mercer said: “Today more than ever people in the country are looking at us as MPs as to how we behave and I think some of the behaviour is appalling.
“I am concerned that today to see Cabinet Ministers, who I know are simultaneously phoning round for support for their campaigns, at the same time eviscerating colleagues who may wish to think that the Prime Minister doesn’t hold the future for them.”
Mr Mercer was speaking to ITV before last night’s vote – and admitted he wasn’t sure whether or not he would back Theresa May.
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The rising star savaged Theresa May’s government in October – saying he cannot support “an administration that cannot function”. He had previously branded the government a “s**tshow”.
Speaking yesterday he claimed MPs were being “bullied” into trying to support the PM or vote her out. He said: “The way individuals are being bullied in the House of Commons today on both sides is pretty shocking.
“The idea that people who have a genuine concern with the leadership of this country, that people like that are extremists, that they don’t have the national interest at heart is, in my view, woefully misjudged.”
He added: “We have to be very careful, we have to weigh up the evidence, this is a country at stake, and get it right.”
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