Controversies between the Tories: Leadership races are becoming more and more exciting | Express commentary | Commentary

After six long weeks, the battle for the Tory leadership suddenly broke out yesterday after Priti Patel resigned.

The men in the grey suits have warned the candidates that they must behave fairly after the destructive election campaigns of recent years, which only deepened the division within the party and led to its demise in the general election.

But after the results of the first round were announced, the briefing war began with full force.

Dame Priti lost the race by just one vote, but the support of her 14 MP supporters will be fought hard.

For many months, long before the post was even vacant, Kemi Badenoch was considered the leading candidate.

However, she came second behind Robert Jenrick, a centrist who moved to the right after a stint as immigration minister at the Home Office during which he was shocked by abuses of the system.

A rival camp said the result would cause careerists in the party who wanted to support the winning team to reconsider.

The insider added: “The result is so anemic that a doctor would introduce it as an inpatient.”

Meanwhile, another source close to the party leadership’s campaign team said it was “now clear: if we don’t want the party to be led by people like Mark Francois and Edward Leigh, someone has to stop Rob,” in a swipe at the right’s support for Jenrick’s campaign.

There are still two months until the results are announced, so there is plenty of room for surprises.

James Cleverly, the second favourite for many MPs, has a good chance of being John Major’s candidate to break through from the centre and take the crown.