Newspaper Conference: Nicky Morgan Hints at Leadership Bid

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan used a Newspaper Conference lunch to hint at a future Conservative Party leadership bid in a story widely followed up by national media. 

Mrs Morgan told regional press lobby journalists at the lunch: “I think it would be a big mistake if, when we get to it, the two people that the party offers up as potential candidates are white men.

“I have said before that I think it would be great to have a woman there. That might be me, it might be somebody else.” 

Her comments were reported by political editors from papers such as the Yorkshire Post, Birmingham Mail, Eastern Daily Press and the Newcastle Chronicle before being picked up by national outlets such as Daily Mail and The Telegraph

The Conference holds a series of lunches throughout the year, with Labour Party Leader, Jeremy Corbyn appearing as the guest speaker at the annual Conference lunch in January.

The News Media Association provides a secretariat service for the Newspaper Conference which is chaired by Annabelle Dickson, Archant group political editor.