Transport Secretary Mark Harper dismissed speculation about a plot to oust Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and replace him with Commons leader Penny Mordaunt.
Harper emphasized Sunak’s leadership role in leading the Tories into the next general election, affirming that Sunak will set out a clear plan for the government’s future direction.
Harper urged his colleagues to prioritize what is best for the country, emphasizing the prime minister’s commitment to making decisions based on the nation’s interests, even if they are not immediately popular. He expressed confidence that Sunak’s decisions would ultimately yield positive results.
Replacing Sunak would mark the appointment of the sixth prime minister since the 2010 general election and the third without a general election.
However, Mordaunt swiftly rejected rumors of her involvement in a leadership plot, labeling such speculation as “nonsense” and asserting that the public is weary of such stories.
Reports had surfaced suggesting that MPs within the Conservative Party discussed uniting behind Mordaunt if Sunak faced a vote of no confidence.
This speculation followed a challenging period for Sunak, during which he faced criticism for his handling of racist remarks attributed to a major party donor and the defection of Lee Anderson, whom Sunak had promoted to Tory deputy chairman, to the Reform UK party.
