This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/31/stop-dominic-raab-tory-moderates-seek-to-block-path-to-pm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| 'Stop Raab': Tory moderates seek to block hardliner's path to PM | 'Stop Raab': Tory moderates seek to block hardliner's path to PM |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Tory moderates are beginning to coalesce around candidates they believe could defeat Dominic Raab, rather than Boris Johnson, as several MPs told the Guardian they considered the former Brexit secretary the bigger threat. | Tory moderates are beginning to coalesce around candidates they believe could defeat Dominic Raab, rather than Boris Johnson, as several MPs told the Guardian they considered the former Brexit secretary the bigger threat. |
| The moves against Raab from moderates are likely to also benefit Johnson and the environment secretary, Michael Gove, who Tory backbenchers believe is gaining momentum over his cabinet rival Jeremy Hunt. | The moves against Raab from moderates are likely to also benefit Johnson and the environment secretary, Michael Gove, who Tory backbenchers believe is gaining momentum over his cabinet rival Jeremy Hunt. |
| On Friday the former immigration minister Mark Harper became the 12th MP to enter the race to succeed Theresa May, setting out his stall as someone who had not served in May’s government and could offer “fresh thinking”. | On Friday the former immigration minister Mark Harper became the 12th MP to enter the race to succeed Theresa May, setting out his stall as someone who had not served in May’s government and could offer “fresh thinking”. |
| Tory leadership race: the favourites to replace May | Tory leadership race: the favourites to replace May |
| Six MPs have endorsed Harper so far, putting him ahead of other outsiders including James Cleverly, Esther McVey, Kit Malthouse and Rory Stewart. However, more than half the parliamentary party is yet to declare for a candidate. | Six MPs have endorsed Harper so far, putting him ahead of other outsiders including James Cleverly, Esther McVey, Kit Malthouse and Rory Stewart. However, more than half the parliamentary party is yet to declare for a candidate. |
| The environment secretary’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking. | The environment secretary’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking. |
| He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges, from a new social insurance to pay for social care, to changing human rights law to prevent service personnel being pursued over historical crimes. He has better Brexiter credentials than Hunt, is liked by the moderate wing of the party, and is a better orator than almost any other candidate. | He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges, from a new social insurance to pay for social care, to changing human rights law to prevent service personnel being pursued over historical crimes. He has better Brexiter credentials than Hunt, is liked by the moderate wing of the party, and is a better orator than almost any other candidate. |
| He has played up his senior role in the Vote Leave campaign, saying he had ‘led from the front’ because he believed it was ‘the right thing to do, at a critical moment in our history’. | He has played up his senior role in the Vote Leave campaign, saying he had ‘led from the front’ because he believed it was ‘the right thing to do, at a critical moment in our history’. |
| On Brexit he has publicly discussed the idea of extending the Brexit deadline slightly beyond 31 October, if needed to finalise a deal. Has not completely ruled out a no-deal Brexit. | On Brexit he has publicly discussed the idea of extending the Brexit deadline slightly beyond 31 October, if needed to finalise a deal. Has not completely ruled out a no-deal Brexit. |
| He received 37 votes in the first round, 41 in the second, and 51 in the third round, placing him third each time. | |
| The foreign secretary has made the case that he is the most serious and experienced would-be leader, in an apparent rebuke to his main rival, Boris Johnson. | The foreign secretary has made the case that he is the most serious and experienced would-be leader, in an apparent rebuke to his main rival, Boris Johnson. |
| On Brexit he believes a new deal is possible by 31 October, and would send a new, cross-party negotiating team to Brussels. Would countenance leaving EU without a deal, but has warned that could lead to a confidence vote and potentially an election. | On Brexit he believes a new deal is possible by 31 October, and would send a new, cross-party negotiating team to Brussels. Would countenance leaving EU without a deal, but has warned that could lead to a confidence vote and potentially an election. |
| Hunt’s problem is he is seen as the continuity candidate, the safe pair of hands, when colleagues are starting to see the attraction of a new style. | Hunt’s problem is he is seen as the continuity candidate, the safe pair of hands, when colleagues are starting to see the attraction of a new style. |
| He received 43 votes in the first round and 46 votes in the second round. He continued to be in second place in the third round with 54 votes. | |
| Javid struggled to define himself in the first days of the campaign, not a fresh face, not a safe pair of hands, or a true Brexit believer. But his campaign picked up, with the endorsement of popular Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, a polished leadership video telling the moving story of his background, and a lively launch speech. It was still only enough to place him fifth, though. | Javid struggled to define himself in the first days of the campaign, not a fresh face, not a safe pair of hands, or a true Brexit believer. But his campaign picked up, with the endorsement of popular Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, a polished leadership video telling the moving story of his background, and a lively launch speech. It was still only enough to place him fifth, though. |
| On Brexit, Javid says he wants to leave with a deal, but has talked down the idea of another extension and would be prepared to opt for no deal. | On Brexit, Javid says he wants to leave with a deal, but has talked down the idea of another extension and would be prepared to opt for no deal. |
| He is expected to make a new push to define himself as the change candidate who can talk to Tory voters in new places – though he may also be tempted to drop out to tuck in behind one of the frontrunners. It is hard to see how he could make it into the final two from this position. | He is expected to make a new push to define himself as the change candidate who can talk to Tory voters in new places – though he may also be tempted to drop out to tuck in behind one of the frontrunners. It is hard to see how he could make it into the final two from this position. |
| He received 23 votes in the first round, 33 votes in the second, and 38 in the third. | |
| The former foreign secretary already has enough support to progress through to the members’ ballot. All Johnson needs to do is sit tight, keep his MPs sweet and try not to ruin it for himself. He has kept a low profile in the media and stayed in the tearooms and in his office, methodically talking round colleagues. His team know that one negative news cycle because of an off-guard comment could see his star plummet – and Johnson is more prone to those than most. | The former foreign secretary already has enough support to progress through to the members’ ballot. All Johnson needs to do is sit tight, keep his MPs sweet and try not to ruin it for himself. He has kept a low profile in the media and stayed in the tearooms and in his office, methodically talking round colleagues. His team know that one negative news cycle because of an off-guard comment could see his star plummet – and Johnson is more prone to those than most. |
| On Brexit he has promised the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, come what may, even without a deal if a new agreement cannot be reached in time. | On Brexit he has promised the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, come what may, even without a deal if a new agreement cannot be reached in time. |
| Johnson won the first round with 114 votes, and the second round with 126 votes. He won the third round with 143 votes. | |
| MPs told the Guardian that Johnson and Gove were having more success at winning over moderates, who have largely accepted that a Brexiter is likely to be the members’ favourite so parliamentary efforts are best directed in keeping more radical candidates off the final ballot. | MPs told the Guardian that Johnson and Gove were having more success at winning over moderates, who have largely accepted that a Brexiter is likely to be the members’ favourite so parliamentary efforts are best directed in keeping more radical candidates off the final ballot. |
| “MPs are not backing the lowest common denominator here,” one MP said. “That is good news for Boris and not good news for Raab. He’s not been impressive as a front person.” | “MPs are not backing the lowest common denominator here,” one MP said. “That is good news for Boris and not good news for Raab. He’s not been impressive as a front person.” |
| Multiple MPs said Johnson had been emphasising his more liberal credentials on issues other than Brexit. “Rightwing on Brexit, to the left of the party on other things – that’s probably where the country is,” the MP said. “The nation is not demanding massive tax cuts.” | Multiple MPs said Johnson had been emphasising his more liberal credentials on issues other than Brexit. “Rightwing on Brexit, to the left of the party on other things – that’s probably where the country is,” the MP said. “The nation is not demanding massive tax cuts.” |
| “Very senior moderate ministers are now fully behind Stop Raab – that is what they think is the real problem,” another MP, a member of the One Nation group, said. “With Raab and a moderate in the final two, it would be a disastrous gamble” | “Very senior moderate ministers are now fully behind Stop Raab – that is what they think is the real problem,” another MP, a member of the One Nation group, said. “With Raab and a moderate in the final two, it would be a disastrous gamble” |
| Johnson, who remains a divisive figure in the party, is expected to rachet up his campaign next week but so far he has kept his tactics private. “If I hadn’t declared, I could have seen him five times already,” one new intake MP said. | Johnson, who remains a divisive figure in the party, is expected to rachet up his campaign next week but so far he has kept his tactics private. “If I hadn’t declared, I could have seen him five times already,” one new intake MP said. |
| “He’s speaking to MPs. He’s thinking about tactics. To be honest, that’s what he should be doing,” another said. “He knows people will come and see him in his office if he asks.” | “He’s speaking to MPs. He’s thinking about tactics. To be honest, that’s what he should be doing,” another said. “He knows people will come and see him in his office if he asks.” |
| Johnson remains deeply unpopular in Scotland and was reportedly blocked from attending the party’s conference by its leader, Ruth Davidson. Moderate candidates including Matt Hancock are expending serious efforts to woo the 13-strong Scottish Conservatives. | Johnson remains deeply unpopular in Scotland and was reportedly blocked from attending the party’s conference by its leader, Ruth Davidson. Moderate candidates including Matt Hancock are expending serious efforts to woo the 13-strong Scottish Conservatives. |
| The health secretary has been backed by two of their number – Paul Masterton and the prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary Andrew Bowie – and spent his Thursday visiting Stirling, Angus, Aberdeen, Kinross and Edinburgh. | The health secretary has been backed by two of their number – Paul Masterton and the prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary Andrew Bowie – and spent his Thursday visiting Stirling, Angus, Aberdeen, Kinross and Edinburgh. |
| Rory Stewart, the breakout outsider in the contest who has spent his entire campaign on the road filming shaky handheld videos with members of the public, has also talked up his unionist credentials, proposing a secretary of state for the union and spending Friday in the Scottish capital. | Rory Stewart, the breakout outsider in the contest who has spent his entire campaign on the road filming shaky handheld videos with members of the public, has also talked up his unionist credentials, proposing a secretary of state for the union and spending Friday in the Scottish capital. |
| But his social media tour of the UK has not endeared him to many MPs thus far. “This stuff is not going to make people vote for him,” one moderate said. “It might be different if he was now making a hard-hitting speech every day on health, education and the economy. Colleagues might think: ‘Wow, OK, this guy actually does have some pretty interesting answers.’ But he’s annoyed the right of the party, and you can’t actually lead the party having done that.” | But his social media tour of the UK has not endeared him to many MPs thus far. “This stuff is not going to make people vote for him,” one moderate said. “It might be different if he was now making a hard-hitting speech every day on health, education and the economy. Colleagues might think: ‘Wow, OK, this guy actually does have some pretty interesting answers.’ But he’s annoyed the right of the party, and you can’t actually lead the party having done that.” |
| MPs have also been keeping a close eye on the tactics that candidates have used to announce their declarations of support. | MPs have also been keeping a close eye on the tactics that candidates have used to announce their declarations of support. |
| Gove is currently the frontrunner with MPs, ahead of Johnson and Raab, followed by Hunt, Sajid Javid and Hancock. | Gove is currently the frontrunner with MPs, ahead of Johnson and Raab, followed by Hunt, Sajid Javid and Hancock. |
| Hunt began with one of the highest numbers of declarations but MPs have begun to notice his tally has not grown. “Everybody thinks, though no one knows for sure, that Hunt’s declared people may be all he has,” one MP said. | Hunt began with one of the highest numbers of declarations but MPs have begun to notice his tally has not grown. “Everybody thinks, though no one knows for sure, that Hunt’s declared people may be all he has,” one MP said. |
| Others have been turned off by his apparent “flip-flopping” on a no-deal Brexit. “He alienated moderates by his bullish talk on no deal a few months ago; now he’s alienated Brexiters by calling it political suicide,” one Brexit-voting MP said. “It just proves he doesn’t really believe what he was saying when he was trying to present himself as a ‘born-again’ [Brexiter].” | Others have been turned off by his apparent “flip-flopping” on a no-deal Brexit. “He alienated moderates by his bullish talk on no deal a few months ago; now he’s alienated Brexiters by calling it political suicide,” one Brexit-voting MP said. “It just proves he doesn’t really believe what he was saying when he was trying to present himself as a ‘born-again’ [Brexiter].” |
| In contrast, the tally for Javid, the home secretary, has been increasing steadily each day, though he is still in fifth place. | In contrast, the tally for Javid, the home secretary, has been increasing steadily each day, though he is still in fifth place. |
| “I wouldn’t write him off,” one backbencher said. “But … what’s the point in Sajid? He’s not a true Brexiter or a young fresh face or a safe pair of hands. So why him?” | “I wouldn’t write him off,” one backbencher said. “But … what’s the point in Sajid? He’s not a true Brexiter or a young fresh face or a safe pair of hands. So why him?” |
| Other MPs are waiting to see the candidates’ position on another vital issue for many Conservatives: HS2. One MP said HS2 was proving a major issue with his colleagues whose constituencies were affected by the high-speed rail route and wanted firm pledges that it would be scrapped. | Other MPs are waiting to see the candidates’ position on another vital issue for many Conservatives: HS2. One MP said HS2 was proving a major issue with his colleagues whose constituencies were affected by the high-speed rail route and wanted firm pledges that it would be scrapped. |
| The MP said Raab was not planning to scrap the scheme and Johnson had “made all the right noises but then only promised a review”. | The MP said Raab was not planning to scrap the scheme and Johnson had “made all the right noises but then only promised a review”. |
| Several other candidates could still enter the race, which now has more participants than a football team. The defence secretary, Penny Mordaunt; the former international development secretary Priti Patel, and the hardline Brexiter Steve Baker are all still mulling over a run. | Several other candidates could still enter the race, which now has more participants than a football team. The defence secretary, Penny Mordaunt; the former international development secretary Priti Patel, and the hardline Brexiter Steve Baker are all still mulling over a run. |
| Conservative leadership | Conservative leadership |
| Conservatives | Conservatives |
| Dominic Raab | Dominic Raab |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |