A secretive meeting took place in Parliament last week in which Tory MPs were handed the profile of a person — named only as ‘Candidate X’ — who could save the party from catastrophe at the next election.
Adding to the mystery, they were told the description was based on one of the potential Conservative leadership contenders hoping to replace Rishi Sunak.
The profile of Candidate X was part of a poll of 13,500 voters by Whitestone Insight, which ominously predicted that, with Sunak as leader, the Tories will have just 65 seats after the general election.
The survey tested how three leaders from different factions of the party — labelled X, Y and Z — would fare at the polls.
A poll predicted that, with Sunak as leader, the Tories will have just 65 seats after the general election
Who was Candidate X modelled on? Perhaps the tough-talking Dame Priti Patel or Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch?
Candidate X backed Brexit, wants lower immigration and would scrap the mad dash to Net Zero by 2050. Candidate Y backed Brexit, but wants higher immigration to support some industries and opposes cutting taxes too quickly. Candidate Z was a Remainer, opposes tax cuts and backs Net Zero.
The polling showed that Candidate X romped home with the support of 34 per cent of all voters — while Y received 19 per cent and Z, 22 per cent. Under Candidate X, the Tories would be the largest party in a hung Parliament.
Andrew Hawkins, of Whitestone Insight, said: ‘I did not want to give them a name, I wanted them to see what sort of leader they need to win an election.’
So who was Candidate X modelled on? Perhaps the tough-talking Dame Priti Patel or Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch?
The actual answer is former home secretary Suella Braverman, who struck a chord with her attack on bias in the police and the ‘tofu-eating wokerati’.
On the cover of the U.S. version of Liz Truss’s new book Ten Years To Save The West, she is styled as ‘former Prime Minister of Great Britain’.
Has Northern Ireland disowned her?
Dewer skewers George
Workers Party of Britain MP for Rochdale George Galloway
The new Dundee-born Rochdale MP George Galloway famously asked the late Scottish leader Donald Dewar why people took an ‘instant’ dislike to him. The droll Dewar replied: ‘Because it saves time, George.’
Much mockery at the Tory winter ball last week of Sir Keir Starmer U-turning on his pledge to splurge £28 billion a year on green projects.
Lord Leigh, a party treasurer, said: ‘Starmer is barred from bidding.
He normally starts at £28 billion, then goes to £5 billion, before offering £20 and some luncheon vouchers.’
Lord Cormack, who died last week, aged 84, was a passionate defender of Parliament’s traditions.
In 2005, when he was an MP, he was appalled when pro-hunt protesters — among them Otis Ferry, the son of rock star Bryan Ferry — entered the Commons chamber.
While the Serjeant-at-Arms, furnished with a ceremonial sword, did nothing, the portly Cormack, a Staffordshire MP for 40 years, frog-marched a ringleader out of the chamber.
Has Reform UK closed door on Lee?
Will Lee Anderson, suspended by the Tories over his attack on London mayor Sadiq Khan, defect to Reform UK?
Anderson has had one meeting with party leader Richard Tice, but his co-deputy, Ben Habib, isn’t so keen on the straight-talking Ashfield MP.
He said: ‘I would be quite circumspect about anyone who can’t express themselves accurately, clearly and in matters of great sensitivity… Lee clearly hasn’t got a grasp, in my view, of the language required to identify and address the problem.’
Lee Anderson (pictured) has had one meeting with party leader Richard Tice
Anderson’s row with Khan overshadowed Rishi Sunak’s announcement last week that the money saved by scrapping HS2’s northern link will fund enhanced transport connections in the North and the Midlands.
Maybe Anderson did Sunak a favour. The first time the PM announced the scheme at the Tory conference, the spend was £36 billion. Last week it was £4.7 billion.
