The Conservative Party looks set to repeat its 2005 beauty contest in Blackpool after MPs overcame party officials to seemingly take control of the timetable for replacing outgoing Rishi Sunak.
Senior Conservative MPs appear to have won a battle against party officials who wanted a quick leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak.
At a meeting of the party’s board, the new chairman of the 1922 Committee, Bob Blackman, told officials that the overwhelming opinion among Conservative MPs was: don’t rush the competition.
The Volunteer Party leaders had wanted a replacement for Mr Sunak to be elected in time for a coronation at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, which begins on September 29.
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But after a lengthy meeting of the 1922 Committee in the House of Commons on Wednesday night, Mr Blackman told the council that MPs were in favour of debates at the conference, with up to four candidates competing.
An announcement on the competition’s schedule and rules was expected after the board meeting, but discussions ended in deadlock and a decision was postponed until early next week.
After the meeting, a party spokesperson told Sky News: “The party council met today and had a good discussion on 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.”
Learn more:
What is the 1922 Committee?
Minutes later, Mr Blackman issued a statement saying the committee had met on Wednesday “to set the parameters for the upcoming leadership race”.
He said the board had met to “consider the options” and added: “The 1922 executive committee will meet next week to consider the rules and a statement will follow, outlining future procedures.”
Mr Blackman’s victory will come as a relief to MPs who fear a snap election could produce an unpopular leader and jeopardise hopes of a fightback after the landslide election defeat.
On the Policy Center On Sky News, Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who said she was elected as a council member on Wednesday, was asked by Ali Fortescue whether she supported a longer run.
She replied: “I think it’s really important that we take the time as a party to discuss what happened, to learn. The reality is we have a lot of thinking to do.”
“And we have to be very humble in how we go about that thinking. So I think it’s important that we have the space to have that conversation as a party and with our members.”
Who could claim to succeed Sunak?
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel has already indicated she will run.
According to Sky News, if Mr Sunak wants to step down earlier than expected, it is possible that an interim leader could take over until a new leader is elected. Former party 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 probable candidates.
After the board meeting ended without a deal, a senior Conservative official told Sky News: “Bob Blackman and the 1922 Committee have won.
“What seems to have happened is that the party’s steering committee had to give in.
“At the meeting on Wednesday, all the speakers said that there was no need to rush.
“Party officials, however, wanted things to happen quickly.
“They wanted this to be over quickly and for a new leader to be elected in time for the conference.”
MPs united on need for longer election campaign
Sky News understands that during the election campaign for the position of chairman of the 1922 committee, replace Sir Graham Bradywhich took place two weeks ago, Mr Blackman and his rival Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown both sustained a long-running contest.
“During the election campaign, Bob Blackman proposed that four candidates speak at the conference,” a conservative insider revealed.
They added: “Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was not as specific, but he made it clear that a new leader should not be elected before the conference.
“The deputies have indeed won, because they are now continuing their work beyond the summer holidays.
“Next week is the last full week before the House adjourns on July 30, so the earliest possible date for MPs to vote is September.”
Who will lead the Conservatives?
The Conservative Party board has around 20 members and is chaired by the party chairman, currently acting chairman Richard Fuller, MP for North Bedfordshire.
Its members include five members of the Conservative National Convention, the party treasurer and other officers, representatives of the Scottish, Welsh and local governments and a Conservative peer, the former Thatcherite minister Lord Forsyth.
In addition to Ms Kearns, the MPs on the board are Mr Blackman, as chairman of the 1922 committee, and three elected MPs: the late former cabinet minister Sir John Whittingdale and former cabinet minister Mark Garnier. Former MP Nickie Aiken, the party’s deputy chairman, is also on the board.
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Could a new “electrifying” candidate reappear?
If Mr Blackman’s proposals are adopted next week, the election process will be similar to that of 2005, when five candidates took part in a “beauty contest” at the Conservative conference in Blackpool.
At the conference, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, David Cameron went from outsider to favourite after a performance described by Sky News as “electrifying”.
Early favourite David Davis was criticised for parading young female fans in tight T-shirts proclaiming ‘It’s DD for me’.
The front-page editors called it a “storm in a DD bonnet.”
Whatever the rules of the 2024 election, this kind of campaign will certainly not be repeated by any of the candidates this time around!
