Get 'unpopular' Rishi off TV! Cabinet minister Johnny Mercer rages that PM is hogging limelight and brands colleagues 'average' in extraordinary memo written in full view of fellow train passengers - as he's slammed for going BARE FOOT
Downing Street aides have been blasted for allowing Rishi Sunak to hog the limelight and acting as if the PM is still as popular as he was when he first took office.
In an extraordinary intervention by top minister Johnny Mercer, No10 officials were warned to stop 'placating' Mr Sunak and giving airtime to 'average' colleagues.
Mr Mercer demanded that more popular Cabinet ministers like Penny Mordaunt and Kemi Badenoch are instead given more media appearances.
He vented his frustrations in a bombshell memo written on his laptop, which was in full view of fellow train passengers as he travelled to London from Exeter.
Images of Mr Mercer's laptop screen were handed to The Times after being photographed by a passenger in the same carriage on 6 May - four days after the local elections.
But, as well as a focus on Mr Mercer's explosive words, there has also been a backlash within Tory ranks about the Plymouth Moor View MP's decision to travel bare foot on public transport.
![Johnny Mercer vented his frustrations in a bombshell memo written on his laptop, which was in full view of fellow train passengers as he travelled to London from Exeter](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/12/85191627-13446623-Johnny_Mercer_vented_his_frustrations_in_a_bombshell_memo_writte-m-2_1716375731637.jpg)
Johnny Mercer vented his frustrations in a bombshell memo written on his laptop, which was in full view of fellow train passengers as he travelled to London from Exeter
![The veterans' affairs minister blasted Downing Street aides for allowing Rishi Sunak to hog the limelight and acting as if the PM is still as popular as he was when he first took office](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/10/85191631-13446623-image-a-2_1716370838616.jpg)
The veterans' affairs minister blasted Downing Street aides for allowing Rishi Sunak to hog the limelight and acting as if the PM is still as popular as he was when he first took office
![Mr Mercer demanded that more popular Cabinet ministers like Penny Mordaunt and Kemi Badenoch are instead given more media appearances](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/10/85191629-13446623-image-a-3_1716370840565.jpg)
Mr Mercer demanded that more popular Cabinet ministers like Penny Mordaunt and Kemi Badenoch are instead given more media appearances
![Images of Mr Mercer's laptop screen were handed to The Times after being photographed by a passenger in the same carriage on 6 May - four days after the local elections](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/10/85191683-13446623-image-m-7_1716370987635.jpg)
Images of Mr Mercer's laptop screen were handed to The Times after being photographed by a passenger in the same carriage on 6 May - four days after the local elections
![Mr Mercer warned No10 officials to stop 'placating' Mr Sunak and giving airtime to 'average' colleagues](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/10/85191703-13446623-image-m-9_1716370998979.jpg)
Mr Mercer warned No10 officials to stop 'placating' Mr Sunak and giving airtime to 'average' colleagues
In his memo, the minister for veterans' affairs wrote: 'Political communication seems haphazard, un-themed and loose. We have average performers during important slots.
'How many people did (Transport Secretary Mark) Harper win over for us this weekend?
'Team in No10 operating as though the PM is as popular in the polls as he was two years ago.
'It appears to be all about placating him/managing him/promoting him on social media.
'We are only going to get through this as a team. There are good, capable senior colleagues around the Cabinet table who people clearly like, who should see more air time and be more prominent.'
Polls of Conservative members showing that Business Secretary Ms Badenoch and Commons Leader Ms Mordaunt are more popular than Mr Sunak 'should not be ignored', Mr Mercer said.
Both Ms Badenoch and Ms Mordaunt are seen as potential Tory leadership contenders if the party loses the general election.
Mr Mercer, who has been an outspoken backer of Mr Sunak, also wrote that too many special advisers were 'overpromoted and underskilled' and had 'poor political judgments'.
He said that despite his access to No10 and the Prime Minister, 'I don't feel part of the team'.
His efforts to persuade No10 to allow veterans to use their IDs at polling stations had been blocked by special advisers, he said, adding: 'Feels like even I cannot have any impact on the grid/government comms.'
![Penny Mordaunt](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/10/85176379-13446623-Downing_Street_must_give_more_airtime_to_popular_Cabinet_ministe-m-14_1716371033172.jpg)
![Kemi Badenoch](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/10/85176399-13446623-Kemi_Badenoch_at_the_Conservative_Party_conference_on_October_3_-a-15_1716371047613.jpg)
Mr Sunak's latest popularity rating on the ConservativeHome website is minus 51 - lagging far behind Ms Mordaunt (left) on minus 23 and Ms Badenoch (right), on minus 15
![Fellow Tory MP Michael Fabricant hit out at Mr Mercer's decision to ditch socks and shoes as he sat in the train carriage from Exeter St Davids to London Paddington](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/10/85191959-13446623-image-a-16_1716371564636.jpg)
Fellow Tory MP Michael Fabricant hit out at Mr Mercer's decision to ditch socks and shoes as he sat in the train carriage from Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
Mr Sunak's latest popularity rating on the ConservativeHome website is minus 51 - lagging far behind Ms Mordaunt on minus 23 and Ms Badenoch, who tops the rankings on minus 15.
Labour's shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth said: 'With high-profile Tory ministers exposed as lacking confidence in Rishi Sunak and his weak leadership, it's no wonder the British public are demanding it's time for change.
'The only way to turn the page and end the ongoing Tory chaos is with a Labour government delivering change the country needs.'
Fellow Tory MP Michael Fabricant hit out at Mr Mercer's decision to ditch socks and shoes as he sat in the train carriage from Exeter St Davids to London Paddington.
He posted on X/Twitter: 'I remember flying back from Brussels once and a BA official at the boarding desk telling someone to put their shoes and socks on before boarding the flight.
'When asked why, she replied "People don't like looking at other people's toenails or smelling their feet." I agree.'