Saturday 25 June 2022 02:03 AM Boris 'considers shuffling Patel sideways to replace Dowden as party chairman' trends now
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Priti Patel is being touted to replace Oliver Dowden as Tory chairman - after the latter shockingly quit after the party's double by-election loss on Thursday.
The Home Secretary is being lined up by officials in the Government whips' office - but friends of Ms Patel say the move is unlikely to happen.
Ms Patel has a reputation as a good campaigner but has struggled with party membership according to ConservativeHome's recent cabinet rankings - in which she has languished near the bottom.
A Cabinet source told the Telegraph that a reshuffle was risky for Boris Johnson because senior figures might refuse to move and quit the Government.
The Home Secretary is being lined up by officials in the Government whips' office - but friends of Ms Patel say the move is unlikely to happen
The Cabinet source said: 'How the hell can he do anything resembling a meaningful reshuffle without it being really difficult because there will be bodies everywhere?'
Ms Patel is being touted for the role again after being linked with it ahead of previous reshuffles.
The insider added: 'People regularly say she is going to be made party chairman at every reshuffle and that is never going to happen.'
Some even described the calls as a 'backhanded
