Another U-turn as Cabinet infighting continues

By Ian Dunt

The coalition appeared set to perform another major U-turn on a keynote policy today, as rumours of Cabinet infighting dominated Westminster.

Plans to implement minimum pricing of alcohol, which had the personal backing of the prime minister, are set to be shelved after concerted opposition by Theresa May, Andrew Lansley and Michael Gove.

"I feel devastated," Tory MP Sarah Wollaston said.

"Whenever alcohol is too cheap, people die. In political terms, don't ditch it - let's introduce a sunset clause. Please, please try it."

Shadow Home Office minister Diana Johnson said: "Theresa May and David Cameron have announced a minimum alcohol price twice in the last 12 months.

"Now we hear reports the home secretary has changed her mind on her own policy and wants to U-turn. This is weak leadership and weak government."

But leading Tory backbencher David Davis welcomed the end of a "blunderbuss of a policy".

David Cameron intervened personally on the alcohol pricing issue on several occasions, arguing that a minimum unit price would cut health and crime problems as well as bring back some semblance of order to Britain's high streets at the weekends by preventing groups 'pre-loading' on cheap alcohol before going out.

But a concerted effort by Gove, Lansley and May appears to have stopped the policy in its tracks, despite Home Office statements insisting it is still considering replies to its consultation.

If so, the withdrawal of the policy will be treated as further evidence of Cameron's increasingly weak position, as he tries to control embryonic rebellions against his leadership among backbenchers and around the Cabinet table.

The prime minister has taken to holding pre-Cabinet meetings of just Tory ministers, in what amounts to a weekly political Cabinet.

Yesterday's meeting reportedly led to Gove publicly attacking May for her barely-concealed leadership ambitions.

The home secretary has been at the centre of leadership speculation since a ConservativeHome rally speech this weekend expanded well past her brief and started to lay out a right-wing 2015 election agenda.

The outburst follows a slew of negative unattributed comments about May from frontbenchers, including one source who described her as "100% charmless".

The attacks suggest a coordinated retaliation against the home secretary and raise doubts about the loyalty of those around her, given she singled Gove out for praise during her weekend speech, possibly with a view to using him as a running mate.

Tory backbenchers were reportedly given a talk on social media discipline by election coordinator Lynton Crosby yesterday, as they were encouraged not to tweet their views on the issues of the day.

Feedback from backbenchers suggested they were prepared to behave with greater discipline but needed to see a similar approach at the Cabinet table.