Michael gove skewers corbyn over claims he's a 'fraction' behind may

The Environment Secretary dismissed claims Tories wanted to oust Prime Minister Theresa May after some backbenchers have called for a leadership vote.  Speaking on the Today programme, the

BBC Radio 4 host, Sarah Montague pressed Mr Gove on the Prime Minister’s future, bringing up Mrs May’s poor election result.  She said: “You will be aware that in the general election which

was not necessary, her rival Jeremy Corbyn secured only a fraction less than her. “He received many more votes than [Labour have] for a number of years.”  The Environment Secretary

interrupted the BBC host as he slapped down the Labour Party leader.  “Yes, he came second, yes,” he said. “No one is burying their heads in the sand, what we are doing is concentrating on

delivering and governing effectively.  “Yes you are absolutely right we didn’t get the general election result that we wanted, but what we do have is a government that was able to secure a

handsome majority for the Queen’s Speech.” The BBC presenter pressed the Conservative minister over his position on some Tory backbenchers wanting the Prime Minister to step down.  ‘STIRRING

UP DISCONTENT’ SHAPPS SLAMMED FOR TRYING TO OUST MAY > Yes, he came second, yes >  > Michael Gove He replied: “I concentrate on policy, one of the things you said earlier was we

have to talk about his because it is leading the bulletins.  “It’s not leading the bulletins because it’s an intervention from an act of God. It’s leading the bulletins because it is a

deliberate choice.  “The truth is that the overwhelming majority of Conservative MPs, the truth is that the entirety of the cabinet, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of people

want the Prime Minister to concentrate on doing the job which 14 million people elected her to do.  “I think it would be disrespectful to those 40 million people to do anything other than

concentrate on those areas where action is necessary.” Speaking earlier on the Today programme, Grant Shapps, a Tory MP claimed it was time for Mrs May to step down from her role but blamed

whips for leaking information to the newspapers.  He said: “Theresa May is a very decent person and unfortunately we had an election that didn’t work out and has not been able to see that

relaunch. I just think a growing number of my colleagues realise our solution isn’t to bury heads in the sand, and just hope things will get better.  “It didn’t work out for Brown or Major

and I don’t think it’s going to work out here either. What we wanted to do was have a  rather more informal internal way which might actually avoid the embarrassment if you like.” The Prime

Minister does have the backing of the cabinet, after receiving criticism from some MP’s since her calamitous political address at the Conservative Party conference.