Sunday, October 04, 2015
Now Tory cabinet revolts over Osborne coronation
It is not just Jeremy Corbyn who faces an on-going revolt from his front-benchers, the Tories are up in arms as well. According to the Times, there is fury that the Tory conference will be arranged to further Osborne’s interests, so much so that at least 18 ministers and former ministers are now actively discussing standing against the chancellor:
Senior Tories claimed last week that the prime minister would announce he is standing down in the spring of 2019, with the plan to install Osborne as leader at the party conference in October that year.
One cabinet minister, however, told The Sunday Times they would not stand for a “cosy stitch-up” and another condemned the briefing as an example of “George’s ambition getting the better of him”.
Cameron’s decision to pre-announce his departure has turned this week’s conference into a leadership beauty contest. Theresa May, Sajid Javid, Jeremy Hunt, Chris Grayling, Graham Brady, Liz Truss, Andrea Leadsom, Justine Greening, Dominic Raab, Stephen Crabb, Anna Soubry, Penny Mordaunt and Priti Patel have all discussed with friends the prospect of running.
Former cabinet ministers Owen Paterson and Liam Fox are also considering whether to anoint a new right-wing standard bearer — with Grayling expected to resign from the cabinet over Europe and lead the charge — or run themselves.
The Tories are so confident of re-election following Jeremy Corbyn became Leader of the Opposition that they can afford to indulge themselves in scrapping over who will be the next Prime Minister. Anybody would think that they didn't have a country to run.
Senior Tories claimed last week that the prime minister would announce he is standing down in the spring of 2019, with the plan to install Osborne as leader at the party conference in October that year.
One cabinet minister, however, told The Sunday Times they would not stand for a “cosy stitch-up” and another condemned the briefing as an example of “George’s ambition getting the better of him”.
Cameron’s decision to pre-announce his departure has turned this week’s conference into a leadership beauty contest. Theresa May, Sajid Javid, Jeremy Hunt, Chris Grayling, Graham Brady, Liz Truss, Andrea Leadsom, Justine Greening, Dominic Raab, Stephen Crabb, Anna Soubry, Penny Mordaunt and Priti Patel have all discussed with friends the prospect of running.
Former cabinet ministers Owen Paterson and Liam Fox are also considering whether to anoint a new right-wing standard bearer — with Grayling expected to resign from the cabinet over Europe and lead the charge — or run themselves.
The Tories are so confident of re-election following Jeremy Corbyn became Leader of the Opposition that they can afford to indulge themselves in scrapping over who will be the next Prime Minister. Anybody would think that they didn't have a country to run.