Tories losing West Midlands and Tees Valley at mayoral elections would set vultures circling, Sunak warned [Video]

Rishi Sunak has been warned that losses in the Tees Valley and West Midlands mayoral elections would “set the vultures circling”, with restless Tory MPs agitating for a leadership challenge.

On the weekend reports emerged of a Tory plot to replace the PM with Penny Mordaunt, Mr Sunak has been warned that the unseating of Ben Houchen and Andy Street in next Thursday’s contests could further damage his standing.

The pair are the Conservatives’ most powerful figures outside of Westminster and have built major personal brands.

When their seats were last up for election in 2021, Mr Houchen won a remarkable 72 per cent of the vote, while Mr Street won with 54 per cent.

Amid collapsing poll ratings for the Tories nationally, both …