What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

PM David Cameron risks being hounded out by angry backbenchers if he does not quit the day after the EU referendum .

A plot to oust him if Brexiteers prevail or Remain wins by less than 10 per cent is gathering pace.

One Tory backbencher said a big win for the PM looks unlikely so he would be expected to leave, perhaps the day after the result.

The MP said: “That would let him leave in a sensible fashion rather than the bloody mess that it could be.”

Mr Cameron has already pledged to stand down before the next general election, due in 2020.

(Image: Getty)

Sources say 25 Tory MPs are totally committed to Brexit and they could make life difficult for the PM, whose working majority is just 17.

Rumours of the plot spread through Westminster last week.

A senior MP said: “What’s ­important here isn’t the person holding the knife – it’s the person standing behind the person holding the knife.

Read more:Jeremy Corbyn to face Labour leadership challenge amid MP's fury over EU Referendum 'sabotage'

"That’s David Davis, who has not forgiven Cameron for beating him to the leadership.”

Plotters are confident of gaining the support of the 50 MPs needed to trigger a leadership challenge if Mr Cameron fails to deliver on the vote.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Backbencher Nadine Dorries said Mr Cameron would be “toast within days” even if he secured a narrow win.

A Tory source said: “The plot is definitely getting momentum.

“Whoever takes over from Cameron will have to act quickly to hold the party together. We might even see a general election in the next year.”

Read more:Tories want David Cameron to QUIT over EU civil row, MP Nadine Dorries has claimed

Senior Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen said a challenge was highly likely.

And despite many people dismissing his claims, some sources believe Mr Bridgen ­represents a wider group.

One said: “This may look like the usual suspects but there is definitely a feeling something is afoot.

(Image: Loughborough Echo)

"There will be some changes, whether that is a ­leadership bid, a big reshuffle or even a general election.

“Even if the plotting does go quiet it doesn’t go away, it just goes underground.”

A Labour source confirmed their party had been put on a war-footing in the event of a Tory leadership challenge sparking an early general election.

But if Mr Cameron were to quit, his successor might want to go the country early and try to secure a larger majority than the current working one of 17.

Boris Johnson is current favourite to succeed Mr Cameron but would face stiff competition from fellow Brexiteer Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Home Secretary Theresa May.

(Image: Getty)

A Tory source said: “The sensible thing would be to select a candidate the party can really get behind.

"This campaign has caused a rift – it’s quite easy to see where the fault lines are. The difficulty is that everyone has nailed their colours to the mast.

“If Cameron did stay, it would be bad news for George Osborne. He’d have to move Osborne to keep the Out lot happy.”

Mr Cameron’s team is already planning for the aftermath of the June 23 vote. A reshuffle could take place in mid-July.

But one Cabinet minister told the Sunday Mirror: “There is a lot of support for the Prime Minister whatever the result.”