FORMER Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps has said there is growing support among MPs for a leadership contest following Theresa May's chaotic conference speech.

Mr Shapps, who has been revealed as one of the ringleaders of the plot to oust the Prime Minister, said there is a "broad spread" of opinion among Conservative MPs who believe they cannot carry on as they were.

"They are Remainers, they are Brexiteers," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"A growing number of number of my colleagues, we realise that the solution isn't to bury our heads in the sand and just hope things will get better.

"It never worked out for Brown or Major and I don't think it is going to work out here either."

READ MORE: Theresa May's conference disaster spawns Tory "plot" to oust her

Senior ministers continued to rally around Mrs May, with Environment Secretary Michael Gove - who ran against her in last year's leadership election - insisting there was no need for a contest.

"The Prime Minister has been doing a fantastic job," he told the Today programme.

"She showed an amazing degree of resilience and courage this week, of a piece with the fantastic leadership she has shown through the time that she has been Prime Minister."

It is thought that around 30 Tory MPs are backing the calls for a leadership election - short of the 48 needed to force a contest under party rules.

Mr Shapps would not be drawn on the number but did confirm that he had the support of five former Cabinet ministers.

READ MORE: Colleagues rally round embattled Theresa May

Mr Shapps said that while ministers were publicly backing the Prime Minister, in private some believed she should go.

He said the plan had been to approach Mrs May privately but the Government whips had leaked details to the Times.

"I am slightly surprised that the whips decided to brief a newspaper about it. That was their idea to smoke people out," he said.

"The intention was to be able to go to Mrs May with a list of names - probably with the former Cabinet ministers going to see her."

He added: "It will have to be her decision. I had rather hoped that we would be able to get to point where we could go to her privately and have this conversation; I am very sorry that the whips have not made this possible."

Charles Walker, vice chairman of the powerful Tory backbench 1922 Committee, said it was clear that the rebels lacked the support to force out the Prime Minister.

"Number 10 must be delighted to learn that it is Grant Shapps leading this alleged coup," he told the BBC.

"Grant has many talents but the one thing he doesn't have is a following in the party. I really think this is now just going to fizzle out.

"What you are seeing here is probably a coalition of disappointed people who think their brilliant talents have not been fully recognised."

Mr Gove said the "overwhelming majority" of Tory MPs - including the "entirety" of the Cabinet - want Mrs May to carry on.

"The truth is that the overwhelming majority of people want the Prime Minister to concentrate on doing the job which 14 million people elected her to do earlier this year," he said.

"I think it would be disrespectful to those 14 million people to do anything other than concentrate on those areas where action is necessary."

READ MORE: Theresa May's conference disaster spawns Tory "plot" to oust her

Meanwhile, Mr Shapps has been criticised by Conservative MPs, who said he lacks support in the party and is "embittered".

Former Tory chairman Grant Shapps was revealed overnight as one of those behind the bid to remove the Prime Minister from office but has been blasted by MPs.

Mr Shapps was a minister in David Cameron's government but an ally of the former premier said he has misjudged the situation.

Nadhim Zahawi tweeted: "Inundated with message of support 4 @theresa_may frm members. @grantshapps has misjudged the mood of the party&MPs".

Business Minister Margot James said Mr Shapps does not enjoy wide support in the party after he resigned as chairman following allegations of bullying in the Tories' youth wing.

She posted: "Since road trip turmoil under his party chairmanship Grant Shapps lacks a base in the party."

Veteran backbencher Michael Fabricant suggested Mr Shapps held a grudge because he is no longer a minister.

"I wouldn't buy a used car from one embittered colleague - let alone take advice from him about who should be PM," he said.

"Theresa May should remain."

READ MORE: Colleagues rally round embattled Theresa May

Nadine Dorries, an ally of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who has been the subject of speculation about a potential leadership bid amid his perceived disloyalty over Brexit in recent weeks, claimed Mr Shapps was part of a group of Remain-backing MPs seeking to reverse the decision to quit the EU.

She tweeted: "The plot is by remain MPs to topple the PM, destroy Boris and put a remain leader in place to delay and possibly destroy #Brexit".

Transport Minister Jesse Norman posted: "This is absolutely not what the country needs. The team needs to get behind the PM 100%."