Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel and Kemi Badenoch are seen as more viable candidates by a number of MPs, all of whom have ruled out a deal with the hard-right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
The Conservative party board is expected to meet today to begin drawing up plans for a leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak after the Tories' devastating defeat.
Some party grandees have been pushing for a longer leadership contest. No decision will be made on the timeline until the meeting of the backbench 1922 committee of remaining Tory MPs.
Sunak himself is described as "shellshocked" by the result by those who have spoken to him, the Guardian has been told. The former prime minister has been calling all former Conservative MPs who lost their seats over the weekend.
Three potential leadership candidates appeared to discuss the postmortem in the Sunday papers and TV shows: Braverman, the former home secretary; Jenrick, the former immigration minister; and Victoria Atkins, the former health secretary.
Strategists for a number of candidates are analysing the records of the 121 Conservatives who remain in the parliamentary party. "It's not a Faragist party," said one. "Anyone who pursues that will lose."
Another senior Tory said: "It must be more than banging on about immigration. Labour's weak spot is delivering on their promise of growth - that is going to become a big debate in British politics." One former MP said: "There are no more Conservative MPs in Oxfordshire. That is not because we were not similar enough to Nigel Farage.
Denne historien er fra July 08, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 08, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Parry: Premier League would be 'sterile' without EFL
Rick Parry has accused the Premier League of undervaluing the football pyramid, arguing that without the \"variety and competition\" that come from relegation and promotion the game would become \"sterile\".
Official review: Coote faces FA investigation as Webb breaks silence on video
The Football Association has launched its own investigation into the behaviour of the referee David Coote after remarks he made about Jürgen Klopp in a video that surfaced online this week.
Match-by-match: Coote's Liverpool games as an official
Referee who has been caught on video in a foul-mouthed tirade against Jürgen Klopp officiated 21 Liverpool games. Andy Hunter takes a look at the decisions in each one
Wretched, haunted but human: a referee shaped by modern football
Is it really a surprise that an official or someone similar should end up glassy-eyed and spitting toxins on a sofa?
Hall's audition adds intrigue to England's Nations League finale
In-form Newcastle defender can show Thomas Tuchel he can be the solution to perennial problem on the left
'It's about robust planning, proper financial control'
is about \"preventing the shocks\" that have disrupted the sport in recent years.
'People are going to see women's boxing at its very best'
The super-lightweight world champion Katie Taylor says her rematch against Amanda Serrano in Texas, as the main support act to Tyson v Paul, will be something special
Blindkilde Brown and Fujino help City avoid slip up
Manchester City maintained their 100% start in the Women's Champions League group stage as second-half goals from youngsters Laura Blindkilde Brown and Aoba Fujino were enough to beat a determined Hammarby side.
Players must cope with extra scrutiny, says Lewis
The England coach, Jon Lewis, said his players experienced a \"sharp learning curve\" about perception management in the fallout from their disastrous group-stage exit in last month's T20 World Cup.
No input from Jones in England's plan to upset Springboks
England will not be benefiting from the insider knowledge of their former Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones this weekend after it emerged that neither their players nor key staff members have been in contact with the Irishman, still supposedly employed remotely by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
