Conservative leaders can survive being detested – but when the party starts to think about who could replace them, it’s all over
One of the remarkable things about last week’s death march of a Conservative party conference was the extent to which MPs, advisers and other observers seemed to be coming round to the idea that Liz Truss wouldn’t lead the party into the next election. Replacing Truss seems unlikely – particularly given the recent circus of the last leadership contest. But even among those MPs who weren’t champing at the bit for her overthrow, there were very few who thought the idea ridiculous.
This is a dangerous state of affairs for the prime minister. It’s quite possible to maintain a grip on the Conservative party while being heartily detested by a section of it, at least for a while; both Boris Johnson and Margaret Thatcher, Our Lady of Iron, proved that. But when people’s thoughts start simply straying past you? That’s a bit different.
Henry Hill is deputy editor of ConservativeHome
