BORIS Johnson’s allies are signalling support for Priti Patel as the new Tory Party chairman – but her own sources are pushing back at the idea.
It follows Oliver Dowden's resignation as Conservative chairman after the party suffered two by-election defeats, saying in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson that “someone must take responsibility”.
In Tiverton and Honiton the LibDems overturned a 24,000 Tory majority to win, while Labour reclaimed Wakefield.
The whips’ office now sees Patel as the top choice to replace Dowden owing to her ties to the party’s grassroots and reputation as a campaigner, The Telegraph has reported.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson issues defence of his leadership of Tories after disastrous by-elections
It is not thought that Johnson will act with haste to fill the role of party chairman.
Patel has been at the centre of the row over the UK Government’s scheme to deport asylum seekers to migrant centres in Rwanda.
The plan suffered a major blow when, on the day of the first flight, every single person meant to be on the plane won legal bids to delay the deportations.
The Tory sources see moving Patel to the role of chairman as a way of cooling down the Rwanda row.
However, a Cabinet source warned The Telegraph that a reshuffle would be tricky to pull off amid the threat of resignations by senior figures, adding: “How the hell can he do anything resembling a meaningful reshuffle without it being really difficult because there will be bodies everywhere?”
READ MORE: Boris Johnson to avoid deportation policy on visit to Rwanda for Chogm
A source close to Patel told the paper that Patel taking up the post is “never going to happen”.
Describing the calls as a “backhanded compliment”, they added: “People regularly say she is going to be made party chairman at every reshuffle and that is never going to happen.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel