WANTAGE MP Ed Vaizey issued a stark warning to the Prime Minister following her mishap-strewn party conference speech.  

The former culture secretary said 'quite a few' in the Conservative party were now 'pretty firmly' of the view that Theresa May should stand down.

His warning came as Mrs May's allies sought to rally round her, insisting that there was no mood in the party for a leadership challenge.

So far critics on the backbenches have been reluctant to voice their concerns publicly.

However Mr Vaizey told BBC Oxford: "I think there will be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign.

"The Tory Party conference was a great opportunity to reboot the party and therefore reboot the country to give it a clear sense of direction and that didn't happen.

"So yes, I am concerned. I am finding it increasingly difficult to see a way forward at the moment, and it worries me."

The already febrile mood in the party was heightened by Mrs May's conference address in Manchester when a prankster managed to hand her a P45, part of the scenery fell down, and she was beset by a persistent cough.

There was anger among loyalist MPs who accused the rebels of a 'cowardly' attempt to circumvent party rules in order to unseat her.