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Tory leadership rumours of 'dark arts' swirl before final vote Tory leadership rumours of 'dark arts' swirl after Gove's exit
(about 4 hours later)
If there is an Operation Stop Gove under way, then the twist is still to come. After a turbulent campaign, Michael Gove overtook his rival Jeremy Hunt for the first time on Thursday morning to put him in pole position to reach the final two against Boris Johnson. Three is the magic number that has led many in Westminster to suspect that dark arts might have put Jeremy Hunt through to the final ballot to face Boris Johnson.
Overnight rumours swirled in Westminster that the politicking rumoured to have killed off the campaigns of Dominic Raab and then Rory Stewart was now to be directed at Gove. At the final count, Johnson increased his lead by three votes, to 160. That small rise was the biggest clue so far that his supporters could have been lending votes elsewhere.
At least five of Sajid Javid’s supporters publicly backed Johnson after the home secretary was eliminated from the race on Thursday morning.
If Johnson’s team had encouraged tactical voting, they would not be alone. It emerged that in the final hours Johnson’s supporters were being encouraged by text message from Gove supporters to back their candidate, stressing the need for there to be two Brexiters in the run-off.
As she announced on 24 May, Theresa May stepped down formally as Conservative leader on Friday 7 June, although she remains in place as prime minister until her successor is chosen.As she announced on 24 May, Theresa May stepped down formally as Conservative leader on Friday 7 June, although she remains in place as prime minister until her successor is chosen.
MPs hold a series of votes, in order to narrow down the initially crowded field to two leadership hopefuls.MPs hold a series of votes, in order to narrow down the initially crowded field to two leadership hopefuls.
How does the voting work?How does the voting work?
MPs choose one candidate, in a secret ballot held in a committee room in the House of Commons. The votes are tallied and the results announced on the same day.MPs choose one candidate, in a secret ballot held in a committee room in the House of Commons. The votes are tallied and the results announced on the same day.
In the first round any candidate who won the support of less than 17 MPs was eliminated. In the second round anybody reaching less than 33 votes was eliminated. In subsequent rounds the bottom placed contender drops out until there are only two left. The campaign will conclude on 20 June, with multiple rounds of voting during the day as necessary.In the first round any candidate who won the support of less than 17 MPs was eliminated. In the second round anybody reaching less than 33 votes was eliminated. In subsequent rounds the bottom placed contender drops out until there are only two left. The campaign will conclude on 20 June, with multiple rounds of voting during the day as necessary.
When will the results be announced?When will the results be announced?
Once MPs have whittled down the field to two, Conservative party HQ takes over the running of the next stage, the postal ballot of members. It says this will be completed in the week beginning Monday 22 July.Once MPs have whittled down the field to two, Conservative party HQ takes over the running of the next stage, the postal ballot of members. It says this will be completed in the week beginning Monday 22 July.
Johnson’s vote went up by 14 votes on Thursday morning. Given that he was unlikely to be gaining votes from supporters of Stewart, who has criticised the frontrunner at every turn, this suggested that there had been some tactical voting in previous rounds. If Johnson’s vote goes down in the next round, it could be confirmation. One cabinet minister, who has backed Johnson, played down the possibility of dark arts and said they believed Hunt’s argument to colleagues had resonated: that the country did not need to see another “psychodrama” between Gove and Johnson, and that he was best placed to renegotiate a Brexit deal.
The reason for a Stop Gove operation was said to be a mix of those who wanted to punish Gove for his shock leadership run in 2016, which killed Johnson’s chances, and their belief that Hunt would be an easier opponent in the final round. Even if some MPs were persuaded by honest argument, rumours were swirling in Westminster all week that politicking had killed off the campaigns of Dominic Raab, and then Rory Stewart. Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, joked as he went in to vote that the contest had seen “more churn than a washing machine”.
Gove’s team reacted angrily to the suggestions that votes could be lent from Johnson to Hunt in order to squash his bid. Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary who has been one of Gove’s earliest backers, suggested it would backfire, particularly with former supporters of Stewart. “It’s interesting how every time in this contest, we’ve seen a surge, and then a defeat, surge, then defeat,” one former Stewart backer observed after Gove was eliminated.
Yet if there was an operation going on to stop Gove, it either backfired or was not enough; Gove scraped past Hunt with 61 votes to the foreign secretary’s 59. Gove’s team were very cautious not to say they believe the tactics had backfired. “There’s still another round,” one said. Questions had already been raised about tactical voting on Thursday morning after the first round, when Johnson’s vote went up by 14. Given he was unlikely to be gaining many votes from supporters of Stewart, who criticised the frontrunner at every turn, this suggested there had been some tactical voting in previous rounds.
A senior member of Hunt’s team said before the result that while they believed it was all but certain that votes had been lent elsewhere, they cautioned that those who were playing political games would need to be deeply trusted by Johnson. Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson are final two in Tory leadership race
Overnight there were rumours that there was a serious “stop Gove” operation planned on Thursday among Johnson’s supporters, but after the first ballot, that appeared to be stalling as the environment secretary overtook Hunt for the first time in the race.
Those determined to stop Gove were said to be a mix of MPs who wanted to punish him for his shock leadership run in 2016, which killed Johnson’s chances, and their belief that Hunt would be an easier opponent in the final round.
Gove’s team reacted angrily to suggestions that votes could be lent from Johnson to Hunt in order to squash his bid. The former education secretary Nicky Morgan, one of Gove’s earliest backers, suggested it would backfire, particularly with former supporters of Stewart.
Privately, a senior member of Hunt’s team admitted before the result that while they believed it was likely votes had been switching around, they cautioned that those who were playing political games would need to be deeply trusted by Johnson.
“Would Boris trust anyone other than himself and a few others?” the MP said. “Perhaps he’s never even voted for himself. But the reality is that if you’re in the position where you can influence the entire race, then you’d be crazy not to.”“Would Boris trust anyone other than himself and a few others?” the MP said. “Perhaps he’s never even voted for himself. But the reality is that if you’re in the position where you can influence the entire race, then you’d be crazy not to.”
Both Hunt and Gove’s supporters were playing down expectations that they could capitalise after Stewart, the international development secretary, was knocked out of the race on Wednesday night. The former defence secretary Gavin Williamson, who has been instrumental in whipping votes for Johnson, denied anyone had been asked to vote for a candidate they did not support.
David Gauke, the justice secretaryand one of the Stewart’s most vocal supporters, declined to say who he was backing, as did Stewart himself. But Gauke, who left the voting room in conversation with the Hunt campaigner Philip Dunne, said he believed the 27 votes would not go as one bloc. Two ballots were spoilt, the first time in the contest. Hunt and Johnson are wildly different, but it’s the latter who can deliver Brexit | Simon Jenkins
Of his key backers, the Tory grandees Nicholas Soames and Ken Clarke left the voting lobbies refusing to say who they would back now, though the digital minister, Margot James, a backer of both Matt Hancock and then Stewart, said she had voted for Hunt, calling allegations of dark arts “appalling”. Early on Thursday, both Hunt and Gove’s supporters were playing down expectations that they could capitalise after Stewart, the international development secretary, was knocked out of the race on Wednesday night.
Hunt’s supporters now have a battle to persuade a significant number of Sajid Javid’s 38 supporters to rally behind him. Their argument for the two hours in between votes is that the country does not need to see another “psychodrama” between Gove and Johnson and that Hunt is best placed to renegotiate a Brexit deal. The final few hours were a scramble, with both the Gove and Hunt camps saying it was impossible to call. Most of Javid and Stewart’s supporters remained tight-lipped.
Javid has said he will not back anyone but he is expected to come behind Johnson in the later stages of the race, and is even tipped to be given the role of chancellor. Gillian Keegan, one of Stewart’s most vocal supporters, said she would take the secret to her grave. David Gauke, the justice secretary, one of the Stewart’s most vocal supporters, declined to say who he was backing, as did Stewart himself.
Several of his supporters are likely to follow him to Johnson’s bloc, either privately or publicly. Johnson’s supporters now make up just over half the parliamentary party. But Gauke, who left the voting room in conversation with the Hunt campaigner Philip Dunne, said he believed Stewart’s 27 votes would not go as one bloc. Of his key backers, the Tory grandees Nicholas Soames and Ken Clarke left the voting lobbies refusing to say who they would back next, though the digital minister, Margot James, a backer of Matt Hancock and then Stewart, said she had voted for Hunt, calling allegations of dark arts “appalling”.
After Javid was knocked out he declined to endorse a candidate, but is expected to pull behind Johnson in the later stages of the race, and is even tipped to be made chancellor. His core backers, including Stephen Crabb, Robin Walker, Simon Hoare and Victoria Atkins, also declined to say which way they would vote next.
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
ConservativesConservatives
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Michael GoveMichael Gove
Jeremy HuntJeremy Hunt
analysisanalysis
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