Conservative MPs have been urged to get behind Rishi Sunak even if that means they 'march towards the sound of the guns' at the next election.

Former defence secretary Ben Wallace insisted they support the PM 'whether happy with him or not', while Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch led Cabinet efforts to bolster Mr Sunak's position, telling rebel MPs to 'stop messing around'.

Mr Sunak yesterday said he was 'not interested' in the Westminster rumour mill and that all Conservatives were united behind him.

But there was no public comment from Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, who has been identified by some rebels as a potential 'unity candidate' to replace the PM.

Downing Street dismissed reports that the PM is threatening to call a snap election unless rebels back down. 

But an insider acknowledged there was a danger that Mr Sunak could be tipped into going to the polls if constant rebellions make it impossible to govern.

'People need to understand that if they keep on with the drama and distraction we could end up in a place where it is just not sustainable and there has to be an election,' the source said.

While Mr Wallace acknowledged the dire electoral situation facing the Conservatives, he insisted it was 'too late' to switch leader.

He told Times Radio: 'There comes a moment in the electoral cycle where you effectively put on your best suit, you stand up and you march towards the sound of the guns and you get on with it.

'Rishi Sunak is the Prime Minister. Whether colleagues are happy with him or not, it's too late. Get on with it. Stand up. And at some stage this year, commit to engage in the general election and put our best case forward.

'There is no other alternative. And that's just the reality of it.'

But the bleak mood among Conservative MPs took a further blow yesterday with a brace of polls suggesting that the party was still going backwards.

A Deltapoll survey put the Conservatives down four points at 23 per cent in the past week, while Labour was up by two at 46. 

The 23-point lead is an increase of six points in a week.

A separate Redfield and Wilton poll suggested Sir Keir Starmer's party was up five points on 47 per cent and the Conservatives down three on 21.

The grim findings came despite a giveaway Budget earlier this month which saw Chancellor Jeremy Hunt impose a second consecutive cut in National Insurance, which will give the average worker a combined tax cut worth £900 a year.

One senior Tory said: 'MPs are now applying the 'battle bus test' – who do they want to get off the bus and meet their constituents in a general election campaign. It's not Rishi.'

Speaking to journalists following a speech on the economy yesterday, the PM played down speculation about threats to his leadership.

'I'm not interested in all Westminster politics. It doesn't matter,' he said. 'What matters is the future of our country, and that's what I am squarely focused on.

'And as we have seen over the past few weeks, our plan is working. Inflation is coming down, wages are growing and the economy is back to growing again.'

Mrs Badenoch said plotters seeking to oust the PM should end the 'Westminster psychodrama', telling BBC Breakfast: 'I'm sure if Penny was here she would be distancing herself from those comments.'

But although sources close to Ms Mordaunt have suggested reports of a plot are 'nonsense', she has not moved to publicly distance herself from them since they were revealed by the Mail at the weekend.

Tory MPs on the Right of the party held tentative talks last week to discuss the possibility of uniting behind Ms Mordaunt if the PM faces a vote of confidence in the coming weeks. 

One ally of the PM was scathing about the idea, suggesting Ms Mordaunt 'wouldn't even last as long as Liz Truss'.

'The whole idea is ridiculous,' the source said. 'You've got a bunch of people panicking about the polls, feeding negative headlines and then being surprised when the polls get even worse. Maybe if they calmed down a bit they might start to see some improvement.'