Will the Spectator back Theresa May for the Tory leadership after the wannabe PM eschewed her well-known dislike of making small talk to attend its summer party?
Editor Fraser Nelson remained tight-lipped on his support, but he did join a huddle around May at the event, which was also attended by John Whittingdale, Norman Lamont and Nicky Morgan as well as Piers Morgan and a host of journalists from Channel 4’s Cathy Newman to BBC’s Emily Maitlis.
More interesting than May’s choice of schmoozefest ahead of Thursday’s key vote was the whereabouts of her rivals. While Michael Gove remained committed to his existing role as justice secretary by attending “a dinner with top judges”, Andrea Leadsom went to the Women in Media and Politics party hosted by Tory MPs Amber Rudd and Margot James. Both support May, of course, so either the former Barclays banker could not resist being among the feminocracy, or she has the rightwing Spectator’s support sewn up.
But the biggest question of the night was the whereabouts of the contender most often associated with the Spectator. The party was attended by both Jo and Rachel Johnson – but Boris, the magazine’s former editor and failed Tory leadership contender, did not appear.
