Let us pick next chairman, say Tory grassroots

ALLIES of Boris Johnson have joined growing calls to allow “disenfranchised” Conservative rank-and-file members to pick the next party chairman.

Several Conservative MPS suggested Rishi Sunak should be stripped of the power to appoint Nadhim Zahawi’s replacement, with the choice devolved down to the party base.

However, a former Tory chairman who backs the idea warned they could “absolutely guarantee” it would not come to fruition – as the Prime Minister would not wish to risk a victor emerging with “a bigger mandate than he has”.

Priti Patel, a former home secretary, is also understood to back the move, while another ex-cabinet minister loyal to Mr Johnson told The Daily Telegraph they “totally agree”, adding: “The party is nothing without its membership, so I totally support the ideas of members being involved. That is their person – that is the person they go to, and who goes out to speak to members.”

Tory backbencher Greg Smith said electing the party chairman was a “good idea” that would help repair relations with members denied the chance to vote in October’s party leader election.

As things stand, the Tory chairman tends to be appointed as a minister without portfolio, who attends Cabinet.

Lord Cruddas, whose grassroots Conservative Democratic Organisation has launched a petition to elect the next chairman, told The Telegraph the parliamentary party currently has “too much power” over how things are run.

“This is an opportunity for the Prime Minister to really show that he is on the side of the members,” he said.