Tory MPs win tug of war with party officials over leadership contest timeline to replace Sunak

Senior Conservative MPs appear to have won a battle against party officials who wanted a speedy leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak.

At a meeting of the party’s board, new 1922 Committee chairman Bob Blackman told officials the overwhelming view of Tory MPs was: don’t rush the contest.

Leaders of the voluntary party had wanted a replacement for Mr Sunak elected in time for a coronation at the Tory conference in Birmingham, which starts on 29 September.

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But following a long meeting of the 1922 Committee in the Commons on Wednesday evening, Mr Blackman told the board MPs favour hustings at the conference, with up to four candidates competing.

An announcement on the timetable and rules for the contest had been expected after the board meeting, but the talks ended in deadlock and a decision was deferred until early next week.

After the meeting, a party spokesperson told Sky News: “The party board met today and had a good discussion about the options for the leadership process presented by the 1922 executive committee.

“The 1922 executive committee will meet again and announce the leadership process next week.”

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What is the 1922 Committee?

Minutes later Mr Blackman issued a statement saying the committee had met on Wednesday “to set out the parameters for the upcoming leadership contest”.

He said the board had met to “consider the options” and added: “The 1922 executive will meet next week to consider the rules and a statement will follow, outlining future proceedings.”

The victory for Mr Blackman will come as a relief to MPs who fear a rushed contest could produce an unpopular leader and jeopardise hopes of a fightback after the crushing election defeat.

On the Politics Hub on Sky News, Tory MP Alicia Kearns, who said she was elected as a member of the board on Wednesday, was asked by Ali Fortescue if she was in favour of a longer race.

She replied: “I think it’s really important that we take the time as a party to discuss what’s happened, to learn. The reality is we have a lot of reflection to be doing.

“And we need to be very humble in the way that we do that reflection. So I think it’s important we have the space to have that conversation as a party and to have that conversation with our members.”

Who could compete to succeed Sunak?

Priti Patel, the former home secretary, has already let it be known she plans to stand.

Sky News understands that if Mr Sunak wants to quit early, it is possible that an interim leader could fill the gap until a new leader is elected. Former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has been suggested.

Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are also certain to run and Suella Braverman, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat and Victoria Atkins are all likely candidates.

After the board meeting ended with no agreement, a senior Tory insider told Sky News: “Bob Blackman and the 1922 Committee have won.

“What appears to have happened is that the party board has had to give way.

“At the ’22 on Wednesday every speaker said this should not be rushed.

“The party officials wanted it to be rushed, however.

“They wanted it over quickly and a new leader in time for the conference.”

MPs united on need for longer contest

Sky News understands that at the hustings for 1922 Committee chairman to replace Sir Graham Brady, which took place two weeks ago, Mr Blackman and his rival Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown both backed a long contest.

“At the hustings, Bob Blackman proposed that four candidates should speak at the conference,” the Tory insider revealed.

They added: “Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was not so specific, but was clear that a new leader should not be elected before the conference.

“The MPs have effectively won, because they are now taking it beyond the summer recess.

“Next week is the last full week before the House rises on 30 July, so the earliest the MPs can vote now is September.”

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The Conservative Party board has around 20 members and is chaired by the party chairman, currently the interim chairman Richard Fuller, MP for North Bedfordshire.

Its members include five members of the National Conservative Convention, the party treasurer and other officers, Scottish, Welsh and local government representatives and a Tory peer, former Thatcherite minister Lord Forsyth.

As well as Ms Kearns, the MPs on the board are Mr Blackman, as 1922 Committee chairman, and three MPs who are elected: grandee and former cabinet minister Sir John Whittingdale, and ex-minister Mark Garnier. Ex-MP Nickie Aiken, party deputy chairman, is also a member.

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Could ‘electrifying’ new candidate emerge again?

If Mr Blackman’s proposals are adopted next week the election process will be similar to that in 2005, when five candidates took part in a “beauty contest” at the Tory conference in Blackpool.

At the conference, in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, David Cameron surged from outsider to favourite after a performance described by Sky News as “electrifying”.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

David Davis, the early frontrunner, was criticised for parading young women supporters in tight-fitting T-shirts proclaiming “it’s DD for me”.

Headline writers called it “a storm in a DD-cup”.

Whatever the rules of the 2024 contest, that sort of campaigning will certainly not be repeated by any of the candidates this time!

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