The party held its first hustings this week as MPs gathered ahead of the election of the next leader at the end of this month. Speaking on BBC Newsnight, The Sun’s political editor, Tom Newton Dunn attacked the party for still abiding to its archaic process. Labelling the hustings event as “fundamentally ludicrous”, Mr Newton Dunn sarcastically questioned why the party still wonders why it is in such a mess.

He added: “It is a fundamentally ludicrous way for the Conservative party to try and solve their massive problems.

“To hide themselves away and carry on like they’re in the 1950s.

“And they wonder why they’re in the mess that they’re in.”

Mr Newton Dunn’s comments come as the party’s candidates approach the deadline for gathering their eight supporting MPs.

As it stands, Boris Johnson is the standout candidate to become the next Prime Minister with Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt regarded as strong challengers.

Earlier this week Mr Johnson had warned his party that if it does not deliver on Brexit it could face extinction.

The former Foreign Secretary also insisted that he was the man to put Nigel Farage “back in his box”.

Mr Johnson added: “We are looking at a very difficult situation and we must get ready, eventually, but not immediately, to beat Jeremy Corbyn and put Farage back in his box.

“We are facing an existential crisis and will not be forgiven if we do not deliver Brexit on 31 October.”

While Mr Johnson insisted that the party must deliver on Brexit, Mr Gove revealed that the current October 31 is merely an “arbitrary” deadline.

In a move that will anger Brexiteer MPs in his party, Mr Gove also admitted that he believes that the UK should not be “wedded” to the date.

Mr Gove added: “The critical thing to do is to recognise if we’re not 100 percent out by midnight on 31 October – then we risk making that arbitrary deadline the determinant of what a good deal is.

“If we’re so close to the wire with what I believe is a better deal, it would be right to take those extra few days or weeks in order to land it and to make sure that we’re out.”

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