‘HEADS DOWN AND CHARGE!’

PM’s strategy to revive the economy as Gove is labelled a ‘sadist’ who will put Labour in power

- David Williamson and Jonathan Walker

LIZ TRUSS has told her battle-weary MPs to quit navel-gazing and gear up for a year of hard graft.

The Prime Minister has bluntly warned that only a relentless focus on delivery will save them from defeat at the next general election.

In a rallying call to downcast ministers she vowed to lead them on a strategy of “heads down and charge”.

She is convinced putting on a united front and working flat out to revive the economy is the path to victory.

Ms Truss issued her battle cry after days of market turmoil which has seen the Tories slump to their lowest poll rating in 20 years.

A Cabinet source said last night: “We can dig ourselves out of this hole – but it’s going to take a lot of effort and we must start now.

“When people see a shovel in the ground on new developments in their area they will know the change we have promised is real.

“The strategy the Prime Minister has prescribed is quite simple – heads down and charge.” Ms Truss fired the starting gun on a 12-month delivery blitz after returning from a shaky party conference in Birmingham last week.

In other developments yesterday, rebels were even fighting among themselves as:

● Tory MPs loyal to Boris Johnson drew up secret plans to parachute him back as PM if Ms Truss doesn’t close the gap on Labour;

● Rebels plotting to replace Ms Truss with Rishi Sunak were warned they would end up with Boris Johnson back in Number 10;

● Serial back-stabber Michael Gove was branded a “sadist” who risked helping put Labour in power;

● Number 10 embarked on a race against time to wipe all EU-era laws off the statute book before the next election;