Tory MPs call for no-confidence vote in Cameron

Published on Sunday 22 July 2007 00:09

AT LEAST two Conservative MPs - and possibly as many as six - have called for a vote of no confidence in David Cameron's leadership of the party, it was claimed last night.

According to reports, the MPs wrote to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Michael Spicer, requesting a vote on Cameron's future.

A vote would automatically be triggered if letters were received from 15% of the parliamentary party - currently 29 MPs - as happened when Iain Duncan Smith was ousted as leader in 2003.

The move follows the party's disappointing by-election results last week when it came third in both Ealing Southall and Sedgefield.

A string of bad polls has also put pressure on the Tory leader. Another poll today puts the Tories seven points behind Gordon Brown's Labour party.

According to the poll, Brown now outscores Cameron by 44% to 12% on "sticking to what he believes in", and by 35% to 8% for being strong.

There has been criticism of policies espoused by Cameron, most notably his decision to oppose more grammar schools.

His prioritising of causes such as preventing climate change has also led to grumbling among right-wingers.