Priti Patel Appears at 2024 Epsom Derby Amid Leadership Speculations
Former Home Secretary and current MP for Witham, Priti Patel, was seen enjoying Derby Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey on June 1, 2024. Patel wore a baby blue floral dress with brown loafers, a nude hairband, and jewelled earrings, facing blustery conditions alongside approximately 60,000 attendees.
Patel, who has kept a relatively low profile in recent months, has recently made headlines with her criticism of the government's Rwanda policy and calls for Conservative Party unity. Political commentators have suggested she could be a potential candidate to replace Rishi Sunak as the Conservative Party leader after the next General Election.
David Gauke, former Justice Minister, and Stephen Bush, a Financial Times columnist, have identified Patel as a strong contender for future party leadership, particularly due to her popularity among Conservative MPs and her ability to unify the party’s factions.
General Election Battle Buses Take to the Road
As the General Election approaches, the major political parties have launched their campaign bus tours. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak started the Conservative Party's "battle tour" in Redcar, using a former Oxford United bus. The bus, featuring the slogan “clear plan, bold action, secure future,” is now ULEZ compliant.
Labour, led by Sir Keir Starmer, launched their campaign on a brand-new Yutong coach in West London, displaying the slogan “Change.” Other parties, including the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK, also began their tours, each using their buses to promote respective agendas.
These tours mark the intensifying efforts of parties to connect with voters ahead of the upcoming election.