Keir Starmer compares combating Tories to Eastenders as Rishi Sunak faces mutiny

Tory MPs are tearing chunks out of one another as they argued over whether or not Rishi Sunak must be dumped as PM.

Mr Sunak confronted ridicule within the Commons as Keir Starmer claimed he was being “bullied” by his backbenchers as they participate within the “longest episode of EastEnders ever put to movie”. Amid loud shouts from Tory MPs, the Labour chief mocked: “I love this quaint tradition where the more they slag him off behind his back the louder they cheer in here.”

The party descended into infighting after former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke called on his colleagues to oust “uninspiring” Mr Sunak. MPs traded barbs as supporters of the PM labelled him “self-indulgent”, “facile”, “divisive” and “unwise” for warning the party faces “massacre” But Sir Simon hit back declaring: “Personal insults don’t change the facts.”

In an interview with BBC, he brushed off the criticism, saying: “No one likes that man that is shouting ‘iceberg’ however I believe that folks can be even much less joyful if we hit the iceberg.” The Tory, who’s a detailed ally of Liz Truss, insisted he was appearing alone and was not a part of an orchestrated plot.

He repeatedly declined to say who he desires to grow to be Tory chief, however stated there are a “number of people who could do it”. “I don’t want to tarnish anyone by saying this. I’ve done this on my own, I’ve been really clear that I’ve done it deliberately on my own so I don’t make anyone else the subject of the sort of criticism that I’ve incurred,” he added.

Tory MPs including Ms Truss are preparing to start a new group, Popular Conservatism, that has been nicknamed PopCon. The ex-PM will appear at a launch event next month alongside Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg. Sir Simon had also been due to join them but it is understood he will no longer take part.

Home Secretary James Cleverly warned colleagues against ousting Mr Sunak. “If we had been to do one thing as silly as have an inner argument at this stage, all it could do is open the door for Keir Starmer,” he stated. Post Minister Kevin Hollinrake acknowledged there’s a sense of “panic” in some sections of the get together, however insisted Sir Simon’s view is just not broadly held.