A Conservative MP has said Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage is doing a better job at leading than the Prime Minister.

Henry Smith, MP for Crawley, said he did not think anyone could do a worse job than Theresa May was doing and he wanted to see a new generation of leadership in the Tory party.

He said: “I don’t believe a word she says. She has been very stubborn in negotiating Brexit, she said we would leave and we haven’t left, she says she’s going to go and she still hasn’t.

“What more would it take for someone to realise they are damaging the country?”

The news comes as the Government confirmed on Tuesday that European Parliament elections would be going ahead on May 23.

The latest poll for the election, which decides which Members of the European Parliament the UK will send to the EU until it leaves, shows Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party winning the most seats.

In a YouGov poll last Tuesday, Mr Farage’s pro-Brexit group had 30 per cent of the vote, with Labour in second with 21 per cent.

But the Conservatives were down to just 13 per cent of the vote, a worrying trend considering the party lost more than 1,300 seats in council elections last week.

Mr Smith, a strong supporter of Brexit, said he had sympathy for voters considering Mr Farage’s party. He said: “First of all these elections should never be taking place. People voted to leave the European Union three years ago and it’s the fault of the Prime Minister and Parliament for not doing that.

“I won’t be surprised at all if more voters turn to the Brexit Party. Nigel Farage is certainly doing a better job than Theresa May in leading, but this is an issue larger than party politics.

“Some have a very strong view that we should be staying in the EU.

“Others will voice their frustrations. It will be a very interesting election.”

With Mrs May announcing she will stay in the job until the autumn, Mr Smith said she would have to be “forced out” if the party hopes to elect a new leader soon.

He said: “I don’t think anyone could do a worse job than she’s doing.

“I think we need a new generation of leaders to set out a new agenda and we will see that when a leadership election takes place.

“But more importantly we need to get her out first. She will have to be forced out.”

Commenting on International Development Secretary Rory Stewart’s announcement that he would like to go for the job, the Crawley MP said it was an “absurd suggestion”.

He added: “He’s backing everything Theresa May is doing.“