David Cameron could ‘punish’ Theresa May by demoting her for not playing a big part in Remain campaign

THERESA May could be demoted in a Cabinet reshuffle for not campaigning to stay in the EU, The Sun has learned.

The PM is furious with his Home Secretary for refusing to take a major role in the referendum fight.

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Theresa May could lose her Home Secretary role in a post-EU referendum reshuffle

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His close allies have also accused her of keeping a low profile to boost her Tory leadership hopes.

George Osborne is leading calls inside No10 for Mrs May to be "punished" when the PM carries out a major shake-up of his top team soon after the June 23 vote.

One pro-Remain minister told The Sun: “Theresa is hiding in the hope there will be no blood on her at the end of all this.

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“But she’s not going to get away with it because everyone knows her game now, and all she’s done is lose respect from both sides.”

No10 initially claimed the Home Secretary’s support for Remain as a major boost for its campaign.

But Mrs May has only given one speech on Europe since the referendum was declared in February, and laced it with complaints about the EU.

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She also infuriated Downing Street during it by announcing she wanted to pull out of the European Convention of Human Rights without agreeing it with Mr Cameron first.

But if the referendum’s outcome is very close, Mr Cameron may not have the power to sack or demote any of his big beast ministers.

Friends of Mrs May hit back at the Downing Street briefings against her tonight.

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One close ally of hers said: “Theresa has been clear from the start that she will not do blue on blue attacks.

“She has been campaigning for Remain, but it has been drawing less attention.

“She has also had two major bills to take through Parliament and that takes up a lot of work and time.”

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Brexit-backing Michael Gove today said he doesn’t care if he is sacked because of his stand against the PM.

The Justice Secretary said: “I don't mind if my Cabinet career is over.

"I think the most important thing is to make a principled case for Britain leaving the EU."

The PM has pledged not to punish Leave ministers as long as they don’t attack government policy in other areas.