No one will admit to wanting Rishi Sunak’s job

The Conservative party’s live autopsy continues to occupy minds in Westminster, where briefings variously predict Rishi Sunak’s demise before the next election and the emergence of “unity” candidates in the form of Penny Mordaunt or Tom Tugendhat. The argument being put forward at the end of a miserable fortnight for Sunak is that there can’t be another Tory leadership contest – but there could be a coronation if a single alternative were to step forward who could command the confidence of a majority of the party’s MPs. That’s something Sunak can scarcely claim to do as his authority ebbs away, his party’s biggest donor is revealed as a racist and his flagship anti-immigration plan flounders in the House of Lords. Mordaunt is a Brexiteer who once warned (falsely) that Turkey was likely to join the EU. Tugendhat is a China hawk whose profile was raised by speaking eloquently of his time serving in Afghanistan. Both ran to become Tory leader in 2022, then swung behind Liz Truss. Both are social liberals, with a claim to viability as candidates for party leader after a general election. But neither will admit to wanting the job. Not even close.