IDS 'not in favour' of changing PM in event of Brexit vote

Iain Duncan Smith said he 'not in favour of changing the prime minister at any stage'. Credit: ITV/Peston on Sunday

Former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said that if Britain votes to leave the European Union, the prime minister's job "is to get on and do what the British public have asked him to do".

The Vote Leave campaigner told ITV's Peston on Sunday: "I'm in the business of fighting the referendum campaign to win it and so I'm not keen on any distractions.

"If as I hope and believe we will vote to leave the European Union, my view certainly is that the prime minister's job is to get on and do what the British public have asked him to do".

"I'm not in favour of changing the prime minister at any stage", he said, adding "I've always said that if he was to stand again I would support him so I remain in that position.

Mr Duncan Smith said "my view and advice to colleagues at the moment is the horse in front of you, is the horse you ride".

"This is a fairly free process and people can make their own decisions but I have one simple view and I have waited for this referendum for a long time and now we have it I want the British people to make all these decisions."

When asked about criticisms of the prime minster by some of his Tory colleagues over migration levels, Mr Duncan Smith said: "There are big economic issues, it's right to ask those questions, and migration matters to people out there."

  • Gove and Johnson call on PM to accept failures over net migration

It comes as senior Conservatives and Vote Leave campaigners Michael Gove and Boris Johnson called on the prime minister to accept his failure to limit migration is "corrosive of public trust".

David Cameron has also been criticised by Conservative colleagues Michael Gove and Boris Johnson. Credit: PA

In a joint letter, published in the Sunday Times, they issued a stark warning to the minister that his credibility is on the line.

  • Cameron will be 'toast within days' depending on referendum result

Conservatives Nadine Dorries and Andrew Bridgen have questioned David Cameron's future after Britain votes on June 23.

Nadine Dorries told Robert Peston, the prime minister could be "toast within days", depending on the result.

Nadine Dorries said her 'letter is already in' asking for Mr Cameron to stand aside. Credit: ITV/Peston on Sunday

Meanwhile, Mr Bridgen insisted Mr Cameron is "finished" as Tory leader because of the way his "Operation Fear" tactics have divided the party.

Downing Street said the attacks were an attempt to "distract" from a survey of 600 economists showing 88% believed withdrawal would be damaging for the economy.

  • Sadiq Khan: Both EU referendum camps talking 'nonsense'

Newly elected London mayor Sadiq Khan has criticised both EU Leave and Remain campaigns for "talking nonsense".Mr Khan said the public should hear a "positive and patriotic case" instead of "too much project fear".

Sadiq Khan called for an end to 'too much project fear'. Credit: ITV/Peston on Sunday

  • Blair: Leave campaign focusing on migration as economy debate 'lost'

Former prime minister Tony Blair has said the Leave campaign is focusing on immigration "because they've lost comprehensively the debate on the economy".

Tony Blair warned the economic aftershock of a Brexit would be severe Credit: BBC/Andrew Marr show

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Mr Blair said: "I understand why people think the levels are too high but the fact is the biggest problem we have is non-EU immigration."

"The reason why the Leave people really focused on immigration day after day is because they've lost comprehensively the debate on the economy," he added.