After a bruising election campaign, a chastened Theresa May has the backing of her party publicly, but behind the scenes she will need to keep multiple factions happy, including several with conflicting priorities on Brexit, the economy and social justice. These are the main Tory groupings:

David Davis and the cabinet greyhairs

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David Davis, the Brexit secretary, and Philip Hammond, the chancellor, were rumoured by some to be set for demotion before last week’s election, but the close result means they have become much-needed allies for the prime minister and for each other.

Cabinet reshuffle: who did Theresa May move and bring in Read more

Their loyalty can be counted on for now, because May is so weakened that she was not able to move senior cabinet members for fear that any sacked minister could mount a challenge against her. The loss of May’s most senior advisers, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, may help increase their influence.



Other key figures in this stabilising grouping are Damian Green, the new first secretary of state, who has been close to the PM since their university days. Another key figure will be Michael Fallon, the defence secretary.

Boris and his acolytes

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The foreign secretary is still eyeing his chances of the leadership and a number of MPs have been urging him to start preparing in case May has a quick departure. His parliamentary allies include the MPs Jake Berry, Nigel Adams, Ben Wallace and Amanda Milling. He is likely to try to build his support base in parliament even further over the coming weeks. His brand of Brexit is more positive and optimistic sounding than May’s offer at the election, while he is more queasy about talking tough on immigration, although his detractors say he is a polarising figure with the electorate.

Michael Gove and the hardcore Brexiters

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Michael Gove Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA

This group of Brexiters have gone out to bat for May despite the disastrous election because so far she has given them everything they wanted. Michael Gove, newly back in the cabinet, is a key member and his promotion could be seen as an attempt to keep the group onside. Watch out too for possible jobs for some other key members, including Dominic Raab, Iain Duncan Smith, Owen Paterson, Bernard Jenkin and Theresa Villiers.

Steve Baker, a Tory MP and former RAF pilot, is also a key figure as chairman of the European Reform Group. He now has the backing of more than 100 MPs, including some former remainers, who will maintain the pressure for what they like to call a “clean” Brexit.

The group backs May now because she is still seen as their best chance of completing their aim of keeping Brexit on track without big payments to the EU and a red line on making sure free movement ends.

Nicky Morgan and the soft Brexiters

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Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary, and Anna Soubry, the former business minister, lead a group of remainers sacked by May. They are intent on making sure the party does not sacrifice the economy in pursuit of a hard Brexit at all costs. Other modernisers include Dominic Grieve, Alistair Burt and Claire Perry, but their number has been depleted by the election, with Ben Howlett and Neil Carmichael losing their seats. They will be highly significant, though, because May’s lost majority means she does not have the numbers to push a hard Brexit deal through parliament. A prominent member of the gang outside parliament is George Osborne, the former chancellor, who will be able to wield influence as editor of London’s Evening Standard.

Ruth Davidson and the Scottish Tories

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ruth Davidson Photograph: Hannah Mckay/Reuters

Ruth Davidson’s growing influence south of the border should not be underestimated. She now commands the loyalty of 12 new Tory MPs who won their seats north of the border, saving May from utter defeat and marking a revival in Scottish conservatism. The socially liberal leader and MSP has fought for LGBT rights, modernisation of the party, an open Brexit and a more liberal line on immigration than the UK party – although not all the newly elected MPs are pro-Brexit.

Backbench social justice warriors

Heidi Allen Photograph: BBC

Heidi Allen, Jeremy Lefroy, Stephen McPartland and several other MPs made an impact in the last parliament by organising themselves to oppose various austerity measures, as well as championing child refugees, prompting a number of U-turns. The group has been prepared to defy the whip when necessary, and with May now in charge of a minority government, their influence could be far more powerful. They are also likely to be the voices urging the prime minister to heed the Labour surge in the election after a campaign focused on social justice and public services.



• This article was amended on 13 June 2017. An earlier version said Ruth Davidson’s growing influence south of the border cannot be underestimated. This has been corrected to say should not be underestimated.

