Theresa May is an ‘increased figure’ after week of Brexit chaos says former minister David Jones

A leadership challenge against Theresa May is “very unlikely” according to former Brexit minister David Jones.   Mr Jones, who was sacked by Mrs May in January’s Cabinet reshuffle, told Chopper’s Brexit Podcast the Prime Minister had come out from this week’s votes as “an increased figure”.   He said: “It is very unlikely – I don’t see any reason why there should be. The fact is we should all now be focused on getting the best deal for the country as we go through the Brexit process.   “We have only got nine months until we leave the European Union. We couldn’t afford a three month Conservative leadership process which is what that would amount to.”   Mr Jones said Dominic Grieve, the former Attorney General, was “very unwise” to have been caught meeting with anti-Brexit groups like Best for Britain.   Mr Jones said: “He has been at pains to say that he has not been trying to damage the Brexit process but frankly attending what appeared to be secret meetings in Europe house which used to be Conservative party headquarters is not doing him any favours and I think he will live to regret that.”   Also on Chopper’s Brexit Podcast, Tim Bentinck, who plays the lead role of David Archer on Radio 4’s The Archers, says that the long-running serial is scrupulously about not being biased in favour of Brexit.   Bentinck said: “The Archers has always been apolitical. If they ever ever delve into politics you will find that one person will come up with one side of the argument, someone else will come up with the other side of the argument.   “That argument will be balanced and it will never be a resolution to that argument.”   Bentinck declined to say how the fictional characters voted in the referendum – but he suggested David Archer’s farming rival Brian Aldridge would have backed Leave.   He said: “Archers can’t be political – it really can't. Who knows what they actually voted in the referendum – but clearly Brian voted to leave didn’t he?”   Other guests are Tory MP Bob Seely, who has written a paper about Russia’s projection of its influence in the UK, Femi Oluwole , co-founder of Our Future, Our Choice on why the UK needs a second vote on the Brexit deal, and James Rothwell, the Telegraph’s Brexit Correspondent on the fate of Penka the cow.   Chopper’s Brexit Podcast is available here from 6am: https://choppersbrexitpodcast.telegraph.co.uk/