Former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke calls for the replacement of Sunak as Prime Minister

In an article published in The Telegraph, former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke has called for Rishi Sunak to be replaced as prime minister by the Conservative Party or risk being "massacred" in the upcoming general election. Sir Simon argues that the Tories need a leader who aligns with the majority's instincts and accuses the party of losing key voters by not being bold on immigration and government reform. Downing Street has not yet responded to Sir Simon's remarks. However, Minister Kevin Hollinrake stated that the majority of the party believes Sunak is the right person for the role, citing his success in turning around the economy and reducing Channel crossings. Sir Simon's article has faced criticism from several ex-Tory cabinet ministers, including Priti Patel and David Davis, who accuse him of prioritizing personal ambitions over the country's best interests. Sir Simon, meanwhile, denies positioning himself or any other candidate and emphasizes the high stakes for the country and the party. A general election is anticipated in the second half of this year, with 28 January 2025 being the latest possible date. Sir Simon is the second former minister to publicly call for Sunak's resignation, following former education minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who submitted a letter of no confidence in November. Sir Simon, previously chief secretary to the Treasury under Sunak, threw his support behind Liz Truss's leadership bid and joined her cabinet. Conservative MPs can only trigger a leadership election if at least 53 MPs write to the chair of the 1922 Committee requesting it. Sir Simon argues in his Telegraph article that the party under Sunak finds itself on the opposite side of a widening precipice. He acknowledges the fear among Tory MPs of electing a fourth leader in two years but questions whether chaotic headlines for a week or a decade of decline under Keir Starmer would be worse. He states that Conservative MPs will have to live with the decision they make in the coming days for the rest of their lives. Sir Simon's comments follow a week of rebellion against Sunak over his Rwanda Bill, which aims to deter migrants from crossing the Channel in small boats. The bill faced a significant rebellion, with 61 Conservative MPs voting to change it, marking the largest rebellion of Sunak's premiership. The debate over the legislation has highlighted ongoing divisions within the Conservative Party, with two deputy chairmen resigning their roles to support the rebel amendments. On the other side, the One Nation caucus of around 100 Tory MPs threatened to kill the bill if any of the rebel amendments were accepted. The article by Sir Simon exposes the deep divisions within the Conservative Party, according to Jonathan Ashworth, a Labour shadow cabinet minister. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper criticizes the Conservative Party for considering a fourth prime minister without consulting voters. Sunak is the third Conservative prime minister since the 2019 election, following the removal of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss in 2022. Recent polls have shown a gloomy outlook for the Conservatives, with Labour leading by 18 points. A YouGov poll suggests Labour could secure a 120-seat majority in a general election. Sir Simon warns that this would result in more Tory seats being lost than in 1997 and significant defeats in historically Conservative constituencies.