UK ministers urge party to back under-fire Prime Minister

The four ministers wrote articles for Sunday newspapers warning that they would soon find themselves in opposition unless the party united quickly.

Four ministers in Liz Truss's government on Sunday urged Conservative colleagues to back the embattled UK prime minister following a punishing week that exposed deep divisions within the party.

Interior minister Suella Braverman, former finance minister Nadhim Zahawi, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt and environment minister Ranil Jayawardena all wrote articles for Sunday newspapers warning that they would soon find themselves in opposition unless the party united quickly.

Mr. Braverman wrote in The Sun on Sunday, "Those working with Labour to undermine our prime minister are putting the Conservatives' chance of victory at the next election in real danger.

"So the choice for my colleagues and for us is as party is simple - Back Liz or get (Labour leader) Keir Starmer, hand-in-hand with (SNP leader) Nicola Sturgeon."

Mr. Braverman, however, was one of several ministers who went against Downing Street directions during her speech at the chaotic Tory Party conference this week.

Mr. Zahawi wrote in the Mail on Sunday that the government had made mistakes unrolling its fiscal policy, which led to a humiliating climbdown over a plan to cut income tax rates for the top earners.

But he said that "now is the time" to rally behind Truss, again warning that rebels risked ushering in a Labour government "propped up" by the SNP.