Rishi Sunak said he is “not interested in Westminster politics” and insisted his party is “united” as he brushed off rumours of a plot to oust him.

Asked during a visit to the West Midlands why he did not let one of his “disloyal colleagues” have the “poisoned chalice” of being prime minister, Mr Sunak said: “I’m not interested in all Westminster politics. It doesn’t matter.”

He also insisted his party was “united” following negative briefings against him over the weekend.

“All Conservatives are united in wanting to deliver a brighter future for our country,” he said.

Mr Sunak’s failure to turn around the Tories’ opinion poll deficit has fuelled speculation about Conservative MPs considering replacing him with Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt in an attempt to avoid a general election disaster.

The reports emerged after a particularly torrid week which saw the prime minister embroiled in a Tory donor race row and the defection of former deputy chairman Lee Anderson to the Reform party.

The prime minister is seeking to shift the political debate to the gradually improving economic outlook as he tries to shore up his leadership.

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At a business event in Warwickshire this morning, Mr Sunak gave an upbeat assessment and stressed the need to “stick to the plan”.

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