Priti warned over splitting the party Right as she mulls bid
PRITI Patel was last night being urged not to throw her hat in the ring for the Tory leadership contest after she came last in a poll.
The Home Secretary has spent days trying to decide whether to run – and was yesterday sounding out the support of Brexiteer backbenchers in the European Research Group (ERG).
But her campaign hopes were dealt a blow last night after she came bottom in a poll of Tories who were asked who should be the next party leader. The Conservative Home survey was topped by Penny Mordaunt, with Kemi Badenoch second and Rishi Sunak third.
Miss Patel – who is planning to pitch herself as the ‘only authentic Brexiteer’ who can win the contest – was urged by rivals to pull out so that she does not split the Right-wing vote.
An ally of Attorney General Suella Braverman said: ‘It’s vital that we have one candidate on the Right, otherwise the vote will be split. Between Priti, Suella and Kemi, all that matters is who can win in the membership and has Cabinet experience.
‘There’s only one candidate who is in the middle of that Venn diagram: It’s not rocket science, it’s Suella.’
Miss Patel, however, had been fearful that the Right-wing vote could be split if she did not enter the contest, leaving the party without a hardline Brexiteer in the final two contenders.
A Tory source said: ‘If the Right united on the current numbers the candidate would be in second place. Conversations and caucusing are only going to get them so far. There is a real risk they freeze themselves out of the race.’
Miss Patel told the ERG last night she would be a low-tax candidate and scrap green levies, address the cost of living crisis and not ‘cave’ into the EU.
Despite not yet launching a campaign, she has been publicly endorsed by a dozen MPs – putting her ahead of other rivals who have launched their bids. She has won the backing of a Tory donor, Lord Cruddas, who said: ‘‘We need to see Priti Patel in this race to deliver for the country.’
Miss Patel has also been backed by Tom Pursglove, a minister at the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, who was last week appointed Policing Minister. He posted on Twitter: ‘Her tenacity, leadership and competence would make her a brilliant Prime Minister.’