THERESA May has delivered an “emotional” address to backbench Tory MPs following talk of attempts to oust her as prime minister.
Mrs May “won the room” and secured her position with a “heartfelt” speech to the backbench 1922 committee, former home secretary Amber Rudd said.
Leave-backing MP Michael Fabricant called the gathering a “love-in” for Mrs May adding: It wasn’t Daniella in the lions’ den – it was a petting zoo.”
The PM’s address came after a week in which an anonymous MP was quoted as saying Mrs May, above, should “bring her own noose” to the meeting.
Ms Rudd said: “People spoke very freely about their concerns. But they came back to the fact that they backed her in delivering for the country.”
Meanwhile, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, left, has been accused of refusing to give evidence to a parliamentary committee.
Peers are being kept in the dark about the government’s approach to Brexit, chairman of the Lords EU Select Committee Lord Boswell of Aynho said.
Mr Raab had been asked to attend the committee as soon as possible after this month's European Council summit but officials at the Department for Exiting the EU told peers he would not give evidence until after a Brexit deal had been finalised.
Lord Boswell told Mr Raab "we find this unacceptable" and it "inhibits the committee in fulfilling its obligations in scrutinising the progress of the Brexit negotiations at this vital stage".
In a statement the peer said: "Select Committees have a job to do. Lack of engagement from the government, keeping us in the dark, means we can't do that job.
"Brexit was supposed to be about enhancing the role of Parliament, not diminishing it – but that message doesn't seem to have got through to ministers."
Meanwhile, a written parliamentary answer indicated that Mr Raab had not visited the Irish border since being appointed Brexit Secretary in July.
Asked what ministerial visits had been made to the border, MPs were told Mr Raab's predecessor David Davis had visited Northern Ireland in April and May, while minister Robin Walker visited yesterday.
Liberal Democrat Layla Moran, who asked the question, said: "It shameful that the whole withdrawal agreement hinges on the Irish border yet the secretary of state responsible hasn't even bothered to visit Northern Ireland at all."
