A number of MPs now see Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel and Kemi Badenoch, all of whom have ruled out a deal with the hardright Reform leader Nigel Farage, as more viable candidates.
The Conservative party board is expected to meet to begin to draw up plans for a leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak after the Tories' devastating general election defeat. No decision will be made on the timeline until a meeting of the backbench 1922 Committee of remaining Tory MPs.
Three potential candidates appeared to discuss the postmortem in the Sunday papers and TV shows: Braverman, Jenrick, a former immigration minister, and Victoria Atkins, a former health secretary.
Strategists for a number of candidates are analysing the records of the 121 remaining MPs. "It's not a Faragist party," said one. "Anyone who pursues that will lose."
This story is from the July 12, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
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This story is from the July 12, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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