May authority eroded further after car crash conference speech

Conservative MPs were reportedly taking soundings on whether they had the numbers to unseat Theresa May as leader after her car-crash conference speech on Wednesday.

May's already precarious position looked even worse after her speech was plagued by a prankster trying to deliver a redundancy notice as she spoke, lettering falling from the conference slogan on the stage backdrop and a persistent cough that affected the leader's voice.

The pound fell to a three month low on reports that up to 30 MPs could be plotting to knife May. Bookmakers shortened odds on the prime minister being shunted from office this year, with Betfair moving to 5/2 from 9/1 and Paddy Power down to 2/1 from 5/2.

Former culture minister Ed Vaizey said “quite a few” Conservative MPs thought May should go, although there was no sign of significant numbers to force the issue.

"It does a bit remind me of the 1990s where the prime minister can't assert their authority but also where the party's split down the middle and that's very bad for the country," he told the BBC.

Asked whether Mrs May should step aside, he added: "I think there will be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign."

However, Business Secretary Greg Clark offered May support on Thursday, praising what he called the “guts and grace that the PM showed in the face of some pretty difficult and unexpected developments”.

“If you look at the performance, both in terms of the personal character that Theresa May showed yesterday and what she was saying, then I think the respect that those in the hall - and, frankly, talking to people who saw it on TV, many of whom may not be Conservatives and fans of the prime minister - I think there was a respect there,” he told the BBC.

The Tories, who lost their parliamentary majority in June when May made her disastrous decision to call a snap General Election, are now divided over whether she should go, or stay on and deliver Brexit.

They are also terrified that another leadership contest could lead to a resurgent Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn winning power. Even those unhappy with May would be operating on the basis that she is their least worst option and the likes of Johnson would only serve to hasten the Conservative's departure from government.

In a performance that bordered on the ridiculous, comedian Simon Brodkin was arrested by Greater Manchester Police after briefly interrupting the PM. He claimed the note was from Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson – whose desperation to be prime minister is well documented.

Brodkin was released later after police said he had legitimate accreditation to attend the conference.