TORY BEAUTY PARADE

How Boris, Gove, Sajid and more are using Tory conference to launch their leadership campaigns – because they’re convinced May is toast

Hugo Gye

Published: 17:10, 28 Sep 2018

TORIES will this weekend assemble in Birmingham for their annual party conference - and it's set to be a beauty parade for senior figures who fancy their chances of moving up in the world.

Bookies predict the gathering which starts on Sunday will be Theresa May's last as PM - Ladbrokes is offering odds of 4/6 that a new leader will be in place within a year.

Bookies say Theresa May is unlikely to be Prime Minister in a year's timeCredit: Reuters

So several of the top candidates to replace her are now competing to boost their popularity with activists and their fame among the public.

Well-known Tories are planning to speak at multiple fringe meetings, setting out their vision for Britain and their election pitch.

Here we profile the top candidates who are clamouring for position over the four-day conference.

Big Beast Boris

Boris Johnson is the bookies' favourite to take over from Theresa May - with odds of 10/1 that he'll be the leader a year from now.

Boris Johnson is favourite to take over from Mrs MayCredit: Jon Bond - The Sun

At the party conference he's keeping his powder relatively dry, doing just one fringe event.

But that meeting - in a hall with a capacity of 1,000 - is set to be one of the standout moments of the conference.

Boris will be keen to prove he's still a superstar among the Tory faithful who have the last say on who will succeed Mrs May.

Green Gove

Michael Gove, who as Environment Secretary is hailed as one of the most dynamic Cabinet ministers, is listed to speak at least five times.

Michael Gove is trying to appeal to the wider publicCredit: Alan Davidson/AJDImagesLtd

He is attempting to burnish his green credentials by appearing at events hosted by farming and environment groups.

Mr Gove hopes that developing a pro-environment image will help him with swing voters around the country.

Sergeant Sajid

Sajid Javid is seen as the frontrunner for the leadership among ministers who voted Remain in the EU referendum.

As well as making a speech from the conference's main stage, he's expected to appear at a number of carefully picked fringe events.

Sajid Javid is giving speeches on security at the Tory conferenceCredit: AP:Associated Press

He will address one meeting debating the importance of "law and order" - his current brief as Home Secretary.

And crucially, Mr Javid is helping to host a reception for MPs elected since 2015 - who could hold the key to the next leadership election because they're seen as being less committed to a particular candidate already.

Tigger Truss

Liz Truss, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is fast developing a reputation as the Cabinet's resident "Tigger" because of her upbeat demeanour and raft of policy ideas.

She's now regarded as a dark horse for the leadership, with her quirky Instagram account gaining her fans from among young activists.

Ms Truss is speaking at several fringe events - mostly aimed at promoting free-market ideas and appealing to the youth.

Liz Truss is seen as a possible dark horse for the leadershipCredit: AFP

Priti Patrol

Priti Patel was forced to quit the Cabinet last year after meeting Israeli politicians in secret.

But she still harbours leadership ambitions and hopes to overtake Boris and Mr Gove among Brexiteers.

So she is appearing at a number of high-profile fringes, including a pro-Brexit rally and a think-tank debate on "the future of Conservatism".

Rudderless Rudd?

Amber Rudd is another ex-minister who still hasn't given up on the aim of making it to 10 Downing Street one day.

Amber Rudd is hoping to make a comebackCredit: EPA

As a former Home Secretary, she is an expert on immigration and security policy - two of the most important areas for the Tory grassroots.

Ms Rudd is speaking on security in the internet age at one fringe, and attending two talks on migration.