Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned Tory rebels that ousting Rishi Sunak would be “madness” as he argued “changing our leader in the way people seem to change their socks cannot be wise”. 

The former business secretary said any Tory MPs plotting to replace Mr Sunak needed to “calm down and support the Prime Minister”. 

He made the comments amid ongoing speculation about a potential challenge to Mr Sunak’s leadership as the Conservative Party continues to struggle in the polls. 

Referring to leadership speculation, Sir Jacob told GB News: “I think this is crazy stuff. It’s madness. The Conservative Party has already changed leader too many times since the last election.

“The mandate that we have for a prime minister gets thinner and thinner every time we change it. And we need, as Conservatives, to calm down and support the Prime Minister.”

He added: “We also have to show to voters that we are a serious party of government and changing our leader in the way people seem to change their socks cannot be wise, it cannot be sensible, it cannot imbue the nation with that level of confidence that it needs to have.”

You can follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section here.