Conservatives to make it TOUGHER for future leader to be ousted by doubling 'no confidence' threshold

• LISTEN: Jacob Rees-Mogg talks to Sarah Vine & Peter Hitchens about his new reality show, ‘biggest regret’ and the state of the Tories. The Reaction - available wherever you get your podcasts now

The Tory party is to change its rules to make it tougher for Rishi Sunak's successor to be ousted in a coup.

Bob Blackman, chairman of its backbench 1922 Committee, said the threshold for mounting a leadership challenge would be 'at least' doubled, following a string of attempted coups against a succession of leaders.

It comes amid warnings from Tory moderates that they could move against any new leader who shifts the party too far to the Right.

James Cleverly was knocked out of the contest on Wednesday, leaving Right-wingers Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick to contest the Tory crown on November 2. 

Last night, former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg backed Mr Jenrick, saying he 'understands the depth of the challenge the Conservatives face and the gumption to do something about it'.

Mr Jenrick also launched a thinly veiled attack on Mrs Badenoch, warning that she would plunge the party into years of 'needless drama'. But Mrs Badenoch remains the bookmakers' favourite after impressing activists at last week's party conference.

Mr Blackman said the party was determined to act to avoid the instability which has undermined a succession of Tory leaders in recent years, leading to three prime ministers in six months.

At present, a leadership challenge can be mounted if 15 per cent of Tory MPs submit letters of no-confidence. Following the party's landslide defeat, this means just 18 MPs can trigger a challenge.

Mr Blackman said this would be raised to at least 30 per cent under a review of the rules this year.

Yesterday, Mr Jenrick stepped up his call for Britain to quit the European Convention on Human Rights. Tory moderates are said to be alarmed about the prospect of choosing between two Right-wingers. Veteran MP Sir Roger Gale said: 'I fear that many will feel disenfranchised by this result.'

Former minister James Heappey said: 'We've got a final run-off that risks being a race to the Right. I'm hoping one of the candidates will reach out to One Nation Tories rather than chasing after Reform.'