Rebels serve Sunak with a prisons dilemma

Tory MPs received a special invitation this week to a barbecue in the Downing Street garden. Scheduled for early July, the aim was twofold: to boost party morale before Thursday’s difficult local elections and to calm the rumours currently spooking MPs of an imminent election.

The event, along with a rush of Conservative-friendly policies, are an effort by No 10 to shore up Sunak before a period of anticipated turbulence.

However, with rebels preparing one final attempt to oust the prime minister, there are doubts that the red-meat offensive will charm enough of them. Another chapter of the Tory psychodrama looms. “I’d like to say there will be a calm and measured response,” a minister said of the party’s likely reaction to disappointing council