Portillo lashes out at ‘worst’ conference in memory
Former Tory leadership contender Michael Portillo has slammed this year’s annual party conference as the worst that anyone can remember.
Mr Portillo issued a warning to Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith that plotters were out to oust him.
However, the MP ruled himself out of the running in the event of a leadership contest and said he did not think Mr Duncan Smith would be replaced.
He described the mood of the annual Tory gathering as horrible and dejected and said that some party members had tried to blame ‘modernisers’ for scheming against Mr Duncan Smith, but by the end of the week it was hard to find anyone not in on the plot to oust him.
Mr Portillo’s words come after Mr Duncan Smith told critics at the conference in Blackpool to “get out of my way” during his crucial keynote speech.
The Tory leader received a nine-minute standing ovation for his efforts, which supporters described as outstanding. But it is not yet clear whether it will be enough to prevent a challenge to his leadership.
Whispers continued throughout the conference that around 15 of the 25 MPs needed to trigger a vote of no confidence had contacted Sir Michael Spicer, chair of the 1922 backbench committee.
