MPs on the Right of the Tory party have held talks with moderates about uniting behind Penny Mordaunt to replace Rishi Sunak, hammering out a pact to neutralise her woke views on gender. The Mail has the story.
Sources said discussions were held this week about the possibility of crowning Ms. Mordaunt as the new leader in a ‘coronation’ if the Prime Minister faces a confidence vote in the coming weeks.
The move would mean an astonishing third change of PM since the last election – but would avoid the need for another divisive leadership contest.
Ms. Mordaunt has been identified as a potential standard-bearer for Tory moderates in a future contest in which Right-wingers such as Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman would start as favourites.
Until now, MPs on the Right of the party have opposed her because of her ‘woke’ views on gender issues.
But a source involved with the rebels said a deal was emerging in which they could support her provided she sub-contracts the issue to them.
“The mood has shifted a long way this week,” the source said. “There is a feeling that we cannot go on as we are and that even Penny would be better.
“She would have to allow social policy to be set by others but if you got over that hurdle, you could see the Right prepared to swing behind her if it was the only way to get rid of Rishi and avoid a contest.”
A former minister on the moderate wing of the party also suggested that replacing Mr. Sunak was becoming “much more likely” – and that Ms. Mordaunt was the only candidate the party could unite around without a contest.
The source said: “Until very recently I thought the idea of changing leader again was ridiculous. But No. 10’s handling of some recent events has been so astonishingly bad that I think it is becoming much more likely to happen. You could not have another contest and the only possible candidate I can see people uniting behind is Penny.”
Hang on a minute. Isn’t it because of the moderate MPs that the Conservative party has failed to effectively address key issues like immigration? So how will crowning another one help matters?
Worth reading in full.
Stop Press: According to the Telegraph, Mordaunt is a is ‘stalking horse’ being persuaded to run by the Right of the Conservative Party to trigger a leadership election, at which point they will put forward their own, properly Right-wing candidate. More here.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.