In an effort to flush out the enemy, allies of Rishi Sunak named Will Dry, who was head of polling in Number 10 until six weeks ago, as one of those involved. The Plot - led by a group without a name or headquarters, some of whom aren't being paid and some of whom have never met one another - gained shape on Tuesday night thanks to Downing Street. With Reform now level pegging with the Lib Dems in the Sky News poll tracker ( see post at 7.54), their analysis is that the Tory party faces possible extinction if Nigel Farage joins the election campaign. Yet the handful of ex-advisers and MPs looking at an unprecedented third change of leader in this parliament say they believe that the risk is worth it. The most likely outcome of all the conversations, scheming and briefing is that the Tories go down to an even bigger defeat than they otherwise would have done when the election finally comes.
It is more likely to fail than succeed, the plotters behind the attempt to oust Rishi Sunak believe.
