Women lead charge to be Rishi Sunak's successor

Home Secretary Suella Braverman among five Tory contenders to use party conference to push their credentials

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has warned of a 'hurricane' of 'millions' migrants as she positions herself as a contender to become the next Conservative leader. Bloomberg

Several women are angling for the leadership of Britain's ruling Conservative Party in the event Rishi Sunak loses the next general election, using the annual Tory gathering as a springboard.

Most are from ethnic minority backgrounds and nearly all are on the right wing of the party.

As the Tories hold their annual conference this week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been foremost in terms of bombast, positioning herself as the uncompromising immigration challenger.

Firing more a starting cannon than pistol on her leadership pitch on Tuesday, she bashed migrants, praised the police, mocked the "woke" crowd and formulated a new hate group, of “luxury beliefs” with second homes in Dordogne or Tuscany, of which a number in her audience possibly owned.

In language swirling close to the hard right, Ms Braverman used her speech to warn of a “hurricane” of migration that was sweeping “millions” of people towards Britain.

Whipping up applause and cheers from the willing audience of party members, she promised to begin closing down asylum hotels, while stating “immigration is already too high”.

“The future could bring millions more migrants to these shores uncontrolled and unmanageable”.

There was barely a mention of her boss, Mr Sunak, although it seemed she was building up to a big praiseworthy name check promising the Conservatives had a “secret weapon” for the upcoming general election only to name Labour leader Keir Starmer.

A leadership race next autumn remains a high probability with the Conservatives lingering about 20 points behind Labour despite the steady hand the prime minister has placed on guiding government.

There seems a tacit acceptance that, barring a dramatic economic and political recovery, Britain will probably be governed by Labour by autumn 2024, with Mr Sunak likely to resign.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said there was 'nowhere better to be black than in Britain'. Getty Images

That will precipitate a rush of hopefuls to become the Conservatives' fifth leader in five years but with the prospect of forming the party in their image and the chance to attain the highest office in another five years.

At least five among their number will be women, said former Tory MP Charlotte Leslie, stating that the party has elevated females on merit.

“We are not a party that has gone on and on about women's empowerment in the abstract, we've just gone and done it and that's a very Conservative trait,” she said.

“One issue with identity politics is that it actually prevents you just from cracking on with the job. Our Conservatives don't want to be labelled as a woman or as a person from an ethnic minority they just want to get on with doing a good job.”

Former home secretary Priti Patel. Bloomberg

Another senior Conservative woman told The National that given the arduous candidate selection process it was the “most resilient and toughest” women who got past male contenders.

Kemi Badenoch is among their number and did no harm to her positioning telling members that there was “nowhere better to be black than in Britain”.

The business secretary, born to Nigerian parents, has also spent the last three days carefully cultivating party members – key in any leadership vote – attending drinks parties and fringe events. But she also praised Mr Sunak for “bravely … shattering a lazy consensus about the costs of net zero”.

Former prime minister Liz Truss gave a fringe speech on growth and low taxes, fuelling speculation of a previously unimaginable comeback. Getty

Elsewhere former home secretary Priti Patel has waltzed around the conference with a fair degree of bonhomie that included a dance with Brexit-engineer Nigel Farage, who is not a Conservative member but has sparked speculation of forming a breakaway right-wing party.

In the very crowded right wing corner, former prime minister Liz Truss also pitched in with a well-attended fringe speech on growth and low taxes garnering speculation on a formerly unimaginable comeback.

Claire Coutinho, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has positioned herself in the centre. PA

In the centre ground, stands energy secretary Claire Coutinho who gave a confident and articulate speech and would be the standard-bearer for Mr Sunak’s legacy.

Joining her would be the much-admired Penny Mordaunt, who came third in the leadership race after Boris Johnson’s resignation.

Highlights of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester - in pictures

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after delivering his keynote speech on the closing day of the UK Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on Wednesday. Bloomberg

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty after his keynote speech at the Manchester Central convention complex. PA Wire

Mr Sunak during his address to the Conservative Party Conference. Getty Images

Akshata Murty, the wife of the British Prime Minister, introduces her husband before his speech at the conference. EPA

From left, Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly at the conference. Getty Images

Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt addresses the annual conference on Wednesday. PA Wire

MP Andrea Leadsom, second left, on the final day of the Conservative Party Conference. Getty Images

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Johnny Mercer on the final day of the conference. Getty Images

The scene before Mr Sunak's speech at the conference. Reuters

Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, speaks to the media on the final day of the conference. Getty Images

Former prime minister Theresa May on day three of the conference. Getty Images

Consultants and junior doctors from across the country hold a rally outside the Conservative Party conference. Getty Images

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt attends day three of the Conservative Party Conference. Bloomberg

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a meeting with his staff before his speech to the annual conference. PA

Britain's Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove at the conference. Getty Images

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan gives her speech to the Conservative Party conference. Getty Images

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. PA

Mr Sunak views a VR headset on the sidelines of the event. Reuters

Mr Sunak pets a dog at the conference. Getty Images

Mr Sunak is addressing Tory members as leader of the party for the first time this year. Getty Images

Mr Sunak tours the Exhibitor's Hall. Getty Images

Gillian Keegan, left, Secretary of State for Education talks at a Conservative Women's Organisation event on the sidelines. PA

Conservative Party paraphernalia on display. PA

Merchandise on sale at the party shop during the Conservative Party annual conference at Manchester Central. PA

The conference at Manchester Central ends on Wednesday. EPA

Strong Tory male contenders remain an emasculated sort with Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly the leading lights.

“Obviously, we don't want to be talking about the next leader of the Conservative Party,” remarked Ms Leslie. “But there's a very good chance that we'll have a bunch of very strong, feisty women who have made it very clear that they're not being held back by their gender. In many ways it is very refreshing."