A Tory plot to oust Theresa May has been revealed - but 'Don't Know' appears to be more popular than any candidate to take over.
At least 15 Conservative MPs have agreed to sign a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister as part of a plot to oust her before the conference season, according to the Sunday Times.
Although the letter falls well short of the 48 names needed to trigger a leadership contest, the summer recess could prove critical for the prime minister's future.
A former minister told The Sunday Times: "The numbers change from day to day depending on what's happened but there are about 15 who are fairly consistent in their desire for change.”
But a leadership challenge could cause splits in the Conservatives' membership across the country.
Don't Know' has beaten any one favourite among Tory members as the candidate to replace Theresa May as leader - and most want the Prime Minister to remain in post.
More than a quarter, 26%,of Conservatives could not pick a candidate to take over from the ailing premier, according to a new poll.
David Davis was the top human pick for her replacement on 21% followed by Old Etonians Boris Johnson on 17% and Latin-loving Jacob Rees-Mogg on 6%.
Ed Costelloe, chairman of the Grassroots Conservatives activist group, told the Sunday Telegraph: "After the election can she actually recover? It would need something huge and I can't see it happening frankly.
"She is effectively crippled. She herself must know that she will not be a long-term Prime Minister."
But the survey of 1,002 Tory members by YouGov, the results of which were compiled by university academics, found just 22% of party members think Mrs May should quit now and 71% think she should stay.
Other Cabinet big guns had wafer-thin support among the membership, with Chancellor Philip Hammond getting just 5% and Home Secretary Amber Rudd getting 4%.
Meanwhile, Mrs May has been accused by Labour of ”abusing" her official country residence to avert a leadership challenge at the Tory conference this autumn.
A leaked email obtained by The Mail on Sunday shows the Prime Minister is holding a drinks party for Tory MPs at Chequers next month, just days after returning from her summer holiday which begins tomorrow.
Labour's Jon Trickett said: "For Theresa May to use her official ministerial residence to save her own political skin is an abuse of the system."
While she's away in Italy and the Swiss Alps a 'rota' of ministers have been left in charge of the country.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is reportedly at the levers first after weeks of clashes with Brexit eer ministers.
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