Whatsapp fall-outs and karaoke mishaps: What really happened at Tory party conference Theresa May left the stage following the most disastrous speech in modern political history and headed to her makeshift office, where […]

Theresa May left the stage following the most disastrous speech in modern political history and headed to her makeshift office, where aides greeted her with applause and a spread of cakes, beer and wine they had laid out in anticipation of a more celebratory mood.

Unlike election night, there were no immediate tears. The Prime Minister thanked her team and croaked out a few self-deprecating jokes before jumping in her car home, leaving her advisers to mull over what had just happened. The beer and wine did not last long.

On trains back to London, Tory MPs tweeted their support, but privately they wondered if the PM’s departure had been accelerated. Colleagues speculated that she might stay on for a few months until a transition agreement is struck with the EU, then resign over Christmas. “The mood has totally changed from ‘see Brexit through’ to ‘she’s got to go’,” said one former minister.

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Chief Whip Gavin Williamson received supportive text messages from Cabinet ministers insisting she must stay, though one prominent pro-Remain MP messaged him saying she should resign.

Leavers briefing against Remainers

Then the briefing began. A senior government Leaver alleged that pro-Remain MPs were plotting on behalf of Amber Rudd: “It’s their last throw of the dice. Destabilise and destroy May. Install Remain puppet. Stall negotiations and then weasel out of Brexit.”

Wiser Tory heads say the rumblings are not a case of Remain versus Leave, but rather disgruntled ex-ministers who lost their jobs sounding off. Grant Shapps has been stirring the pot for weeks, gauging colleagues’ thoughts on bringing down the PM.

Shapps has lofty ambitions – he recently admitted he thought he had what it takes to be leader himself. He told the media yesterday he has a list of 30 MPs who want May to resign – Tory sources say the true number is closer to 19, well short of the 48 required to trigger a contest.

Davis rubbing his joke in Johnson’s face

The two most likely to fight it out in the event of a leadership contest are Boris Johnson and David Davis. There were skirmishes between them all week, reaching a crescendo in the conference hall when Davis joked: “We train the best diplomats and put them to the test by sending them to work for the Foreign Secretary.” Davis enjoyed it so much that later that evening he went up to Boris and ribbed him in person, telling his rival: “Did you see my joke? They loved it!”

Johnson’s main concern is his reputation among the Tory parliamentary party, whose support is required to make it onto any leadership ballot paper. Boris’ supporters are surprised at the level of vitriol coming his way from Remain-supporting MPs, who they fear will never forgive him for backing Brexit. “He just doesn’t have the numbers,” says a fellow Cabinet minister.

Aware of this, Boris’ allies insist they are wholly behind May and want her to stay on. They are playing a longer game and feel Johnson’s best hope is convincing colleagues he is the only candidate who can save their seats at the next election. Though one onlooker says he missed a golden opportunity: “If he’d got up and decked that prankster he’d probably be PM by now.”

WhatsApp fall-out

Over in the Tory MPs’ WhatsApp group, Nadine Dorries has been defending Boris from critical colleagues. She rounded on Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston, ordering them to “shut up” and withdraw their calls for him to resign.

In a suspected fit of pique, Soubry’s friend Antoinette Sandbach responded by removing Dorries from the group. Sandbach later claimed the deletion was an accident and invited her back in. Nigel Huddleston sensibly advised colleagues to refrain from WhatsApp wars in case it leaked out to journalists.

Then attention turned to Shapps. One MP’s missive read: “I’ve added you to this group of colleagues. The summary is WTF and STFU.” Alec Shelbrooke referenced the Tory election fraud scandal on Shapps’ watch, writing: “There are fewer signatures on your list than files sent to the CPS after the election campaign you ran as chairman.” Another colleague said: “Do yourself a favour and wind your neck in.”

Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge and Malling, tells me he wants to be Prime Minister (one day) @itvmeridian pic.twitter.com/fa8eXC4DhR — Phil Hornby (@philhornbyitv) October 2, 2017

Away from the instant message infighting, there is one thing on which a majority of Tory MPs are agreed: that conference week allowed the next generation of potential Tory leaders to showcase their talents, some with more success than others.

Candid James Cleverly won admirers by confessing he would “bite the hand off” anyone giving him a chance at becoming Prime Minister. And Tom Tugendhat who, when asked if he had desires on Downing Street, replied: “Of course. I bought a ticket so why wouldn’t I want to win the lottery?”

Karaoke mishap

New MP Kemi Badenoch was chosen as the warm-up act to the PM and cemented her place as a rising star. Huddleston was less fortunate – being turned away from the Spectator party shows he has work to do to build his profile. Ambitious GP-turned-MP Phillip Lee chose the somewhat unorthodox tactic of labelling the NHS a “Ponzi scheme”. One hotly tipped contender has work to do on media relations after a flailing arm on the karaoke dancefloor accidentally connected with the face of a journalist, resulting in a 20-minute nosebleed.

A minister sums up why May is still in place: “Until Brexit is sorted, no leader can be a success. Hence she must stay.” Though her allies concede her position is more precarious than ever. As one loyal Cabinet minister admits: “There is chatter. People are jittery. It is going to be very difficult. We simply don’t know how it is going to pan out.”

Alex Wickham is news editor of Guido Fawkes; @WikiGuido