Sunak must be replaced as PM, says former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke

A senior Tory MP has called for his party to replace Rishi Sunak as prime minister or be "massacred" in the general election.

In an article in the Telegraph, former cabinet secretary Sir Simon Clarke said the Conservatives needed a leader who "shares the instincts of the majority".

Sir Simon, who rebelled on the Rwanda Bill, said the party has lost "key voters" by failing to be bold on immigration and government reform.

Downing Street has yet to comment.

Sir Simon is now the second Liz Truss-era minister publicly calling for Mr Sunak to resign. Former education minister Andrea Jenkyns submitted a letter of no confidence in the prime minister in November.

Conservative MPs can only trigger a leadership election if 53 MPs write to the chair of the 1922 Committee requesting one.

In his Telegraph op-ed, Sir Simon said "the Conservative Party under Rishi Sunak once again stands on the opposite, crumbling bank of this widening precipice".

The former levelling up secretary said Tory MPs might be "afraid" of electing a fourth leader in two years but asked: "Which is worse: a week of chaotic headlines in Westminster, or a decade of decline under Keir?"

"Every Conservative MP will need to live with the decision they make in the coming days for the rest of their lives. Failing to act would itself represent a decision," he added.

Sir Simon's comments come after a week of open rebellion against Mr Sunak over his flagship Rwanda Bill - to deter migrants from crossing the Channel in small boats.

Last week 61 Conservative MPs voted to change the bill as it went through Parliament - the biggest rebellion of Mr Sunak's premiership.

Several ex-Tory cabinet ministers have criticised Sir Simon's article.

Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel accused her colleague of "engaging in facile and divisive self indulgence".

And former Brexit Secretary David Davis said: "The Party and the country are sick and tired of MPs putting their own leadership ambitions ahead of the UK's best interests."

John Ashworth, a Labour shadow cabinet minister, said Sir Simon's article revealed just how divided the Conservative party is.

Mr Ashworth said: "It doesn't matter who leader is because the party is divided from top to bottom."

There has been a sense of gloom among Conservatives over the past few weeks as Mr Sunak's repeated attempts to gain the upper hand politically have failed to make a dent in their standing, trailing Labour by 18 points in polls.