PM urged to sack Ministers

John Major came under new pressure yesterday to sack at least two of his Cabinet, despite making it clear to colleagues that he is against any significant reshuffle before the general election,

With the Conservatives bracing themselves for the loss of up to 700 seats in this week's local elections, David Evans, a leading member of the executive of the 1922 Conservative back-benchers' committee, predicted that the Prime Minister would come under "enormous pressure" this week to sack ministers.

Mr Evans, MP for Welwyn Hatfield, refused to name the ministers he wanted dropped. But it is thought that he and like-minded back-benchers want the Prime Minister to sack the Agriculture Minister, Douglas Hogg and William Waldegrave, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.