Revealed: Tory with the X factor to avoid wipeout

Asecretive meeting took place in Parliament last week in which tory MPs were handed the profile of a person — named only as ‘candidate X’ — who could save the party from catastrophe at the next election.

Adding to the mystery, they were told the description was based on one of the potential conservative leadership contenders hoping to replace rishi sunak.

the profile of candidate X was part of a poll of 13,500 voters by Whitestone insight, which ominously predicted that, with sunak as leader, the tories will have just 65 seats after the general election.

the survey tested how three leaders from different factions of the party — labelled X, Y and Z — would fare at the polls.

candidate X backed Brexit, wants lower immigration and would scrap the mad dash to Net Zero by 2050. candidate Y backed Brexit, but wants higher immigration to support some industries and opposes cutting taxes too quickly. candidate Z was a remainer, opposes tax cuts and backs Net Zero.

the polling showed that candidate X romped home with the support of 34 per cent of all voters — while Y received 19 per cent and Z, 22 per cent. Under candidate X, the tories would be the largest party in a hung Parliament.

Andrew Hawkins, of Whitestone insight, said: ‘i did not want to give them a name, i wanted them to see what sort of leader they need to win an election.’

so who was candidate X modelled on? Perhaps the toughtalking Dame Priti Patel or Business secretary Kemi Badenoch?

the actual answer is former home secretary suella Braverman, who struck a chord with her attack on bias in the police and the ‘tofu-eating wokerati’.