Sir Simon Clarke compared himself to a disliked man shouting “iceberg” after calling for Rishi Sunak to be replaced.
In a dramatic intervention last night, the former Cabinet minister warned the Tories face being “massacred” at the next general election unless the party changes leader.
But his demand prompted a widespread backlash from Conservative colleagues.
Speaking today, Sir Clarke told BBC News: “I totally respect the strong views that something like this evokes.
“No one likes that guy that’s shouting ‘iceberg’ but I suspect that people will be even less happy if we hit the iceberg.
“And we are on course to do that. That is the point that I need to land with colleagues respectfully and calmly.
“We are not at the moment responding to the situation with the seriousness that it warrants.
“Because I don’t want a decade of decline under Starmer. I really worry that we’re on course for a shattering course.”
Sir Simon insisted his move to bring down Mr Sunak was not part of a wider plot.
He said: “I don’t want to tarnish anyone by saying this. I’ve done this on my own, I’ve been really clear that I’ve done it deliberately on my own so I don’t make anyone else the subject of the sort of criticism that I’ve incurred.”
He also repeatedly declined to say who he wants to become Tory leader, but added there are a “number of people who could do it”.
Writing in the Telegraph, Sir Simon warned the Tories face being wiped out at the next general election under Mr Sunak, with Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer in power for a decade.
The Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP said: “The unvarnished truth is that Rishi Sunak is leading the Conservatives into an election where we will be massacred.”
But Sir Simon’s intervention prompted fellow Conservatives to warn against another new leader.
