The weeks before a cabinet reshuffle are when a Prime Minister is at their most powerful. The threat of the backbench or the lure of promotion can be very useful when it comes to getting MPs to play ball. But as Theresa May is fast discovering, the weeks after a reshuffle – particularly an underwhelming one – can be the most dangerous.
Today, the Sun reports that the recently knighted chair of the 1922 Committee Graham Brady has received almost enough letters (the required number is 48) from MPs to trigger a vote of confidence in May. The paper reports that Brady was ‘ashen-faced’ when he was handed one recently. If he gets only a handful more then a vote of confidence is in the offing and May’s premiership could come to an abrupt end.
So, how real is the threat? It’s clear that Conservative MPs are miserable.
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