Wind farm fury fuels latest Tory rebellion

PM'S SIX MONTHS TO SAVE GOVERNMENT

- Sam Lister

RISHI Sunak is facing “real danger” after splits emerged at the top of Government just one month into his premiership, a former Tory chairman warned.

Sir Jake Berry said the first cracks in Cabinet discipline were showing after briefings of divisions among senior ministers about planning reforms.

He warned the Prime Minister there is just six months to get a grip to stop the party heading into election defeat.

Sir Jake – party chairman for two months – became the latest senior Tory to rebel over Mr Sunak’s ban on onshore wind farm development. He joins ex-PMs Boris Johnson – who never overturned predecessor David Cameron’s 2015 moratorium while in No 10 – and Liz Truss.

Allies of Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove say he also is opposed to the block on expansion of the green technology.

Sir Jake believes that “spells real danger for my Government”, warning about the “breakdown” in Cabinet discipline.

He added: “I was in the Liz Truss Government. We sort of knew it was over when we lost Cabinet collective responsibility. This is the first crack in the wall from Michael Gove.” Asked if ministers looked competent, he replied “some of them are”.

Mr Sunak is facing a revolt over the planned onshore wind farm laws from a wing of the party concerned the ban is the wrong move at the time of an energy crisis.

Around 30 Tories are now believed to be backing a bid to force the Prime Minister to change his mind.

MP Alok Sharma, who was president of the UK’s COP26 climate summit, is among the rebels.