Andy Street’s Sky News interview fired the starting gun for the discussion about the future direction of the Conservative Party.
But the battlefield immediately proved to be the Conservative WhatsApp group, also leaked to Sky News.
There are two big conclusions about the leaks
There are two Conservative MPs publicly prepared to call for Rishi Sunak to leave.
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Simon Clarke repeated that appeal to colleagues this evening – but if there were supporters they did not speak out. This may be linked to the second major conclusion
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‘Devastated’ Street refuses to blame Sunak after West Midlands defeat
The fact that the leaked WhatsApps suggests there is more appetite for a debate about whether the party will be next than about the leader.
See more information:
Mayoral election results
Charts tell the story of the conservative collapse
Analysis: The Labor Party’s future success is less clear
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Street says the party should not emulate Reform UK on its right flank, and other members of the group agreed.
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Meanwhile, Suella Braverman came out on Saturday night advocating just that – withdrawal from the human rights convention and tougher criminal laws.
It seems the Conservative Party was watching Sky News – Sophy Ridge’s interview with Street being discussed live – references to “Coates” as I read his messages – some messages of disobedience that clearly never made it my way.
But what is clear is that from here it will not be easy for the conservatives. Things only got worse.
