Conservatives' potential party leaders face dwindling support amidst southern England MPs urging colleagues against right-wing leanings.
MPs now consider Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel, and Kemi Badenoch as more plausible candidates due to their stance on a partnership with Reform leader Nigel Farage.
A Conservative party board meeting is set for Monday to plan a leadership contest replacing Rishi Sunak following the Tories' election defeat.
Some senior members have suggested a longer leadership race, but no decision regarding the timeline will be made until the 1922 Committee of remaining Tory MPs meets.
Rishi Sunak has been reaching out to former Conservative MPs who lost their seats since the election, engaging in personal conversations lasting over ten minutes.
Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick, and Victoria Atkins are among potential candidates discussed after the recent general elections.
Candidate strategists are reviewing the records of 121 MPs to analyze their support. "It's not a Faragist party," one strategist commented.
A former Tory MP expressed concerns about Oxfordshire, stating that incompetence led to losing seats, rather than similarities with Nigel Farage.
Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland warned against letting Reform influence the Conservatives and described Farage as a threat to national values.
Suella Braverman's campaign is facing challenges, while some Tories believe her chances are diminishing due to potential support for Jenrick or Badenoch.
Candidates like Jenrick, Patel, Badenoch, and Tom Tugendhat have been engaging in discussions with colleagues and seeking support before declaring their intentions.
The party is deliberating on whether a new leader should be elected by the time of the Conservative Party Conference or at least by the autumn budget.
Robert Jenrick emphasized delivering immigration policies, taxation levels, NHS services, and border security as crucial to regaining public support for the party.
Victoria Atkins highlighted Labour's weakness in growth promises while expressing confidence that Conservatives can reclaim their position quickly.
Suella Braverman advocates for changes like abandoning the ECHR and Human Rights Act, attributing the party's election loss to failures during their tenure in office.
The 1922 Committee meeting will be chaired by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown after Sir Graham Brady did not stand in the recent elections. Several former MPs who expressed interest in replacing him are now without seats, leaving the contest for that position open to all candidates.
Internal warnings have been issued against potential exclusion of members from leadership contests as rumors suggest such actions may drive Tory supporters towards Reform.
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