A Conservative Party leadership election was underway long before Boris Johnson eventually bowed to the inevitable. Even before the Chris Pincher scandal became the last straw for the party, potential successors to Johnson were courting members of the Tory backbench.
“I’ve never had so many invitations for coffee, drinks or a chat from people who have suddenly taken an interest in me,” quipped one rookie Tory MP. “They’ve been maneuvering for weeks.” Some candidates expected Johnson to limp into the fall. Courtship will now speed up.
The field will be very wide – about 10 candidates are already in the frame – although some will test the water and decide not to run when they don’t gather enough support. For now, the outcome is unpredictable.
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