Patel ‘to be appointed Tory chairman’ after an expected drubbing in the May 2022 local elections

Boris Johnson is set to appoint Priti Patel as Tory chairman in a bid to revive the party’s fortunes in the wake of an expected drubbing at next month’s local elections.

A senior Tory source said the Prime Minister is planning the move as part of a summer reshuffle, which will form the centrepiece of a major ‘reset’ designed to help the Government move on from the Partygate row.

Aides to the PM are also said to be concerned that a new broom is needed at the Home Office, where the relationship between Miss Patel and parts of the civil service have become toxic.

Miss Patel has previously resisted a move to the party chairman’s role, seeing it as a demotion.