LABOUR claimed that confidence in the PM on the Tory benches was “collapsing” yesterday after a former minister became the latest Conservative MP to announce they will step down at the next election.

Banbury MP Tony Baldry, who was first elected in 1983 and was became energy minister under John Major, said his age along with the introduction of fixed-term parliaments had prompted him to quit.

He is the latest Conservative to announce he will not contest his seat coming just a day after Chris Kelly said he will leave Parliament after just one term.

Shadow cabinet office minister Michael Dugher said David Cameron couldn’t “even persuade his newest MPs that he has the answers.”

He added: “Hardworking people desperately need a government which will deal with the cost-of-living crisis. Instead we have a weak Prime Minister and a divided Tory party turning in on itself.”