Theresa May has been put on notice that she will face a leadership challenge after Brexit if she tries to fight the next election following her shambolic reshuffle.

May provoked fury by promoting only the youngest MPs, while thwarting the ambition of those in the middle ranks who might have been a greater threat to her. One serving minister said: “The reshuffle has significantly reduced the prime minister’s time in office. People are realising that she won’t go of her own accord and will have to be forced out.”

Another added: “Most of my colleagues still don’t think Theresa is serious about fighting the next election. When they realise she is deadly serious they will see we cannot continue to indulge the serial disasters like