Simon Clarke challenges Rishi Sunak’s authority as former minister calls for new leader

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Rishi Sunak’s authority has been dealt a recent problem after a Tory former minister went public insisting that the celebration faces an electoral “massacre” below his management.

Sir Simon Clarke, who served within the Treasury whereas Mr Sunak was chancellor, stated “extinction is a very real possibility” with the Prime Minister on the helm.

Writing within the Telegraph, he stated: “Rishi Sunak has gone from asset to anchor.”

The senior Tory stated Mr Sunak was not solely guilty for the celebration flagging within the polls throughout an election 12 months, however insisted “his uninspiring leadership is the main obstacle to our recovery”.

“The unvarnished truth is that Rishi Sunak is leading the Conservatives into an election where we will be massacred,” he wrote.

Sir Simon was amongst 11 Conservative MPs who voted towards the Prime Minister’s Rwanda Bill at its third studying earlier this month, regardless of Mr Sunak seeing off a wider Tory rise up.

The laws survived the Commons hurdle after dozens of backbenchers demanding amendments to toughen the draft legislation largely backed down.

Downing Street has been contacted for remark.