The writing is on the wall.

Theresa May faces growing criticism

There are a number of small snippets of information or suggestions in the media, on television or on line, which taken in isolation from each other are quite innocuous and might easily be passed over amongst the latest reports from celebrities in the jungle or from speculation of appointments to President elect Trump's new cabinet. However, when these small pieces of the jig saw are put together, a very clear picture emerges and it is a picture which some people may find either disturbing or the best news since the relief of Mafeking in 1900. The emerging impression is that the days of Theresa May are numbered.

The most significant problem facing the Prime Minister is that from within her own government ranks and is the problem of Europe which has been a very large thorn in the side for conservative leaders for many decades. There is also the associated question the Prime Ministers handling of Brexit generally and the triggering of Article 50 in particular, which many eminent conservative politicians have labelled as disastrous.

Her performances at the dispatch box during Prime Ministers Questions has been poor over may weeks and have even drawn some writers to describe her responses as pathetic. After less than 180 days occupying Number 10 as Prime Minister, she is receiving mounting criticism and "advice" from cabinet and former cabinet ministers regarding her performance at the dispatch box and elsewhere and more importantly in respect of Welfare reforms, the economy and the NHS to mention just three areas. The criticism and advice has not yet burst into open rebellion, but former allies have voiced concerns with Theresa May's leadership. Boris Johnson David Davis Liam Fox Michael Fallon Priti Patel Justine Greening Oliver Letwin Liz Truss and others including the governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney, are to a greater or lesser extent offering their sometimes contradictory "advice", and seem to have become even more frustrated over recent weeks as the Brexit and Article 50 arguments reach greater levels of rancour.

Mark Carney

The Prime Ministers penchant for dithering and being unable to reach any decision, is more reminiscent of Stanley Baldwin than Margaret Thatcher, and has led to some speculation that a change may be in the air. There is little doubt that the Conservative party has little stomach for another leadership election that would undoubtedly be bloody and a distraction from the current crisis and in any case the British public would not take kindly to yet another unelected conservative Prime Minister being imposed upon them.

However, the conservative government may consider, particularly in the light of their diminishing majority in the House of Commons, that a general election under a new leader would be an elegant solution to their current predicament. The perceived "disarray" within the Labour Party, the apparent changing view amongst the British public regarding continued membership of the European Union and the prospect of UKIP splitting the opposition vote and thereby ensuring a conservative victory with an increased majority, may be too tempting for the conservatives to resist.

Under these circumstances, the Labour party must be ready to respond to the general election triggering on what may be a very short time-scale. The party must reach out to all those voters who feel that they must turn to the Liberal Democrats or even UKIP for their representation in Parliament.

The Labour Party is now the only party which represents ordinary people in this country. The sick, disabled, senior citizens and vulnerable sections of society by protecting workers rights, welfare, civil liberties and the NHS.

The conservatives may have their coup, depose their leader and call a snap general election. The Labour party must react positively to such an eventuality.