Sunak to try to calm Tory jitters amid reports of plot to oust him

PM's allies fight rearguard action as rebellious MPs reportedly plot coup to avoid wipeout at the polls

• Analysis: Hester row and Anderson defection have left Sunak weaker than ever

Rishi Sunak will try to calm Conservative jitters over his leadership this week as he faces yet more speculation over whether Tory MPs could try to oust him from Downing Street before the election.

The prime minister's allies fought a rearguard action over the weekend. Mark Harper, the transport secretary, urged anxious colleagues to have some confidence" in the party leadership and to stay the course, telling them that politics is a team game".