Tories demand Theresa May sets out clearer timetable for departure
Senior MPs decide against changing party rules to allow an earlier challenge to Theresa May's position - but put the PM on notice.
Thursday 25 April 2019 08:43, UK
The immediate threat to Theresa May's leadership has receded after senior Conservatives decided against changing party rules to allow an early leadership challenge.
But the chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs told Sky News that it is demanding a "clear timetable" from Mrs May on when she intends to resign.
The prime minister survived a vote of confidence among Tory MPs in December by 200 votes to 117.
Under the current rules, this means she cannot be challenged for another 12 months.
But amid growing unease in the party about her handling of Brexit - which has seen Mrs May request two delays to Britain's departure date - there have been calls for party rules to be rewritten to allow an earlier challenge.
Critics wanted the grace period to be reduced to six months, which would have potentially allowed another confidence vote in June.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee, said the executive had debate the issue "at length" and "reached the clear determination that the rules should not be changed".
He told Sky News: "We looked at the fact that the prime minister gave a very clear schedule or timetable for her departure as leader a few weeks ago in the eventuality that the withdrawal agreement is passed in parliament.
"We have resolved to request that she sets a similarly clear timetable or schedule for her departure as leader in other circumstances, so that there's real clarity for colleagues in Parliament and for the Conservative Party more generally."
According to Sky's political editor Beth Rigby, Sir Graham abstained on the vote, to help avoid a tie. Nine members of the executive committee voted against the rule change, while seven voted for it. There were two abstentions.
Sir Graham added that Tory MPs were still able to write to him setting out their views on the leadership of the party, adding that he would "communicate the feelings of colleagues on that matter" to Mrs May.
Last month, the PM promised her MPs that she would leave Downing Street once she has delivered Brexit.
But the latest Brexit delay to the end of October - seven months after the original departure date of 29 March - has reignited the clamour for Mrs May to go sooner rather than later.
Many in the party fear a drubbing in local elections on 2 May and European elections on 23 May, which the UK will have to participate in if the prime minister is yet to get a Brexit deal passed by parliament.
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage's Brexit Party is polling strongly ahead of the EU elections, with former Conservative shadow minister Ann Widdecombe standing for the party.
Ms Widdecombe, a Tory MP for 23 years, described the PM as "hopelessly inadequate".
Mrs May's decision to reach out to Labour and offer cross-party talks with Jeremy Corbyn in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock has also angered sections of her party.
These discussions have resumed after the Easter break, with recriminations over the lack of progress continuing.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is set to meet with Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell on Wednesday.
Downing Street has said that the while the talks were "serious" they were proving to be "difficult" in some areas, with progress needed "urgently" to allow Britain to leave the EU as soon as possible.
Mr Corbyn has laid the blame at the door of Number 10, blaming the government's refusal to shift its "red lines" for the continuing impasse.
He said: "We'll continue putting our case but quite honestly there's got to be change in the government's approach.
"They cannot keep on just regurgitating what has already been emphatically rejected three times by parliament, there's got to be a change."