The Business Secretary has long been a grassroots favourite, while the Penistone and Stocksbridge MP is amassing a following, writes Katy Ball
Ministers doing “…in conversations” where they wax lyrical about their wider vision for the country include James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, Kemi Badenoch. “For a rough guide of who thinks they are the next leader of the opposition look at the MPs speaking on panels on the future of conservatism,” says one government aide. Michael Gove will be doing exactly that at an Onward fringe on Sunday alongside 2019-er Laura Farris new Tory candidate and Nick Timothy.
Other potential future leadership candidates who could face a struggle holding on include the new Defence Secretary . Electoral Calculus gives Grant Shapps a 24 per cent chance of holding on were an election held tomorrow. Penny Mordaunt could give it a third time lucky – given her past two efforts failed. However, her Portsmouth seat has a 36 per cent chance on today’s polls of staying blue.
The fact that her backers included Michael Gove shows that she has a broader support base in the party than a figure such as Suella Braverman. Others talk up Cleverly as the figure who could bring the party together after a defeat. “He would get there more from MPs rejecting the others,” says one MP in a safe seat.
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From Miriam Cates to Kemi Badenoch, once fringe MPs are being lined up a succession contestThe Business Secretary has long been a grassroots favourite, while the Penistone and Stocksbridge MP is amassing a following, writes Katy Ball
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