It sickens Sunak that Tory MPs are already discussing his successor. Today’s Sunday Times has given the news
a lot [Tory] MPs expect to lose [the next general election], and people are already wondering who they will support in the next leadership contest. Kimi Badenoch, the trade secretary, is an early favorite but allies say Jacob Rees-Mogg hosted a pre-Christmas dinner on Dunn’s future and is seriously considering a run. Trassites have lined up behind Simon Clarke and Ronil Jayawardene as a team to fight for his libertarian pro-growth agenda.
If you hate the Tory Party and want to see it destroyed, you want Jacob Rees-Mogg Sunak to succeed. I can see a way for Rees-Mogg to win, as long as she makes the final two she has a strong chance of winning with Tory members. It seems ominous for the Tory Party that a JRM leadership bid is not scoffed at but seen as a possibility, we can chalk it up to another Brexit dividend.
I completely dismiss Kemi Badenoch, if you want to understand his supporters, look in a dictionary for the definition of ‘projection’. So far there is a reality gap between what his supporters think of him and his political career.
Getting support from Truss and Trusites is a bit like getting parenting advice from Joseph Fritzl. Given how disastrous and brief the Truss premiership was, it might be best for Trusites to keep their support quiet for either candidate.
A generally solid tip in the Tory leadership contest is to pick, seasoned punters know what to do if Kimi Badenoch is the early favourite, but what does it say about the Tory Party that the top four in the next leadership race could be Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Kimi Will Badenoch and Simon Clarke?
TSE