Who would replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader if he loses the election?

The prime minister's rivals are shoring up support at the Conservative conference in case of polling defeat

Rishi Sunak has not given up on the next election but it appears many of his closest colleagues are now intensely focused on what may well be a race to replace him next year if he loses the election.

If the Conservatives are booted out of office after 14 years in power, the party is going to be split over which direction to take next, with ideological differences widening between the party's various wings. The choice will be whether to retreat to its core vote comfort zone on the right - as it did in the wilderness years of the late 90s and early 2000s - or shift to a more centrist outlook similar to that of David Cameron.