Liz Truss’s leadership was hanging by a thread on Wednesday night amid resignations, more U-turns and demands she go.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman quit and urged the blundering PM to “accept responsibility for mistakes”.
And a host of MPs ordered to vote in a fracking poll refused.
One Tory said Ms Truss has “hours not days” left in power, adding: “It’s Armageddon.” It all played out as inflation soared.
On a day of chaos, Suella Braverman was forced out for breaching rules, one of No10’s senior aides was suspended and a sixth backbencher demanded Ms Truss resign.
But she replaced her with former Home Secretary with Grant Shapps, a leading critic of the blundering PM.
A fracking poll also descended into shambles after a swathe of Tories vowed to rebel amid claims MPs were manhandled into the chamber to vote for the Government.
Some, including Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg were accused of shouting at colleagues.
There was confusion as to whether chief whip Wendy Morton and her deputy Craig Whittaker had resigned over the fracking fiasco.
A senior Tory last night claimed Ms Truss has “hours not days” left in power, adding: “It is Armageddon.”
The carnage became a massive distraction for the PM, who should have been dealing with soaring inflation that has sent food prices rocketing.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “This Tory government is falling apart at the seams.”
Ms Braverman resigned after she breached the ministerial code by sharing a secret document using her personal email account.
She is the shortest-serving Home Secretary in modern history, lasting just 43 days. In her resignation letter she suggested Ms Truss should consider her position.
Ms Braverman wrote: “The business of government relies upon people accepting responsibility for mistakes.
“Pretending we haven’t made mistakes, carrying on as if everyone can’t see that we have made them, and hoping that things will magically come right is not serious politics. I have made a mistake. I accept responsibility. I resign.”
It was thinly-veiled attack on Ms Truss’s handling of the economy after her disastrous mini-Budget crashed the pound and hiked mortgages.
And she will not have been encouraged by the words Ms Braverman’s replacement uttered just two days ago. Mr Shapps said the PM remaining in power would be like “threading the eye of a needle with the lights off”.
But Ms Truss again refused to resign, insisting she “is a fighter not a quitter” after coming under attack from Keir Starmer at PMQs, who asked her: “Why is she still here.”
In a week of U-turns, Ms Truss also had to abandon a threat to expel Tory MPs if they failed to support her in the fracking poll after 36 did not record a vote on a Labour motion to allow time to discuss banning it.
Despite her colleagues being urged to back her, the PM was among those who did not vote. Labour’s Chris Bryant claimed some were forced into the booths.
He said: “I saw members manhandled into another lobby and being bullied.”
Colleague Ian Murray claimed he witnessed minister Jacob Rees-Mogg yelling at Tories. He added: “I’ve never seen scenes like it.
“Jostling and Rees-Mogg shouting at his colleagues. Whips screaming at Tories.”
SNP MP David Linden tweeted: “Just watched the Deputy Prime Minister [ Therese Coffey ] practically pick up a hesitant Tory MP and march him into the Government lobby.”
Ms Coffey denied the claim. And Mr Rees-Mogg said: “I didn’t see any bullying or anybody being manhandled.”
But Mr Whittaker was heard saying, “I am f*****g furious and I don’t give a f**k anymore,” as he left the lobby.
Broxbourne Tory MP Sir Charles Walker said those who voted Ms Truss into power have a lot to answer for. He added: “The damage they have done is extraordinary.”
The PM yesterday axed a planned visit to Hertfordshire. As chaos reigned round her the cost of food rose by 14.5% compared with the same month last year, the largest annual rise since 1980.
It means an average trolley of shopping that would cost £100 a year ago is now £114.50.
How much have prices gone up in past year?
- Low-fat milk 42.1%
- Margarine 30.5%
- Jams and honey 28.1%
- Butter 28.0%
- Olive oil 27.2%
- Cheese 23.1%
- Pasta and couscous 22.7%
- Eggs 22.3%
- Frozen vegetables 20.3%
- Potatoes 19.9%
- Ready-made meals 19.0%
- Poultry 17.2%
- Bread 14.6%
- Fish 13.5%
- Yoghurt 12.8%
- Crisps 11.8%
- Ice cream 11.5%
- Fresh vegetables 11.1%
- Pizza and quiche 9.7%
- Fruit 8.8%
- Rice 6.8%
- Breakfast cereals 6.8%
- Confectionery 6.1%
- Sugar 4.7%
- Dried fruit and nuts 4.6%
- Chocolate 3.3%
