Rishi Sunak will lead the Tories into the next general election, the transport secretary insisted amid reports of a plot to oust him.
Mark Harper dismissed speculation some Conservative rebels want the prime minister to be replaced with Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt.
Asked on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips if Mr Sunak will still be leader at the next election, Mr Harper said: “Yes he will.
“And he’ll take us into that election and he’ll set out very clearly that we’re a government with a plan.”
Asked on the rumours about Ms Mordaunt, he said his colleagues should focus on what is “right for the country”.
“That is the approach that the prime minister takes as well,” he added.
“He focuses on making the right decisions, even if in the short term they’re not necessarily popular…. I’m confident those decisions will pay off.“
Ms Mordaunt has herself shot down speculation she is involved in a plot to replace Mr Sunak, tell Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby the idea is “nonsense” and “the public are rather tired of these stories”.
One of her backers also called the reports “made up briefing”.
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