Originally published in The Spectator

It’s the Tory race on everyone’s lips. No, not the battle to be the next party leader but rather the contest to chair the Conservatives’ National Convention. The body effectively serves as the parliament of the voluntary party and is contested annually, with chairmen elected for three year terms and subject to re-selection every year. Some 850-odd association chairmen and various bigwigs vote to decide which of their number takes the prize.

But with voting opening tomorrow, this time there is actually something of a contest for the role. Former Hackney candidate Joanna Reeves has thrown her hat in the ring, pitching herself as an outsider railing against the ‘failed’ status quo. She is up against Julian Ellacott, one of the incumbent Vice Presidents of the National Convention. Despite the lack of any kind of hustings, both candidates are in a race to collect endorsements from various party grandees. Ellacott boasts former MPs Johnny Mercer and Sheryll Murray; Reeves has Simon Clarke and Gillian Keegan.

Reeves told Mr S that ‘My intention is to represent the voluntary party to and on the party board, not the other way around.’ Voting begins tomorrow and closes on Tuesday 17 September, a fortnight after the final four leadership candidates are announced. Will we see any of the current six make their preference known? If Reeves pulls off an upset, it will be seen as a warning shot from disgruntled grassroots members…