Who is Richard Fuller, the unknown Tory chairman?

When you ask Tory MPs about Richard Fuller, you’re likely to get one of two replies. ‘Nice guy’ from those who know him; ‘Who?’ from those that don’t. It tells you why Rishi Sunak chose him to be Tory chairman, as the party dusts itself off from its electoral drubbing. Fuller, along with Bob Blackman of the 1922, will guide the party through the next three months, as the Conservatives begin the long task of choosing a new leader and rebuilding from the financial ruin of this election.

Fuller was chosen for the role after the resignation of his predecessor Richard Holden. Other than a name, the two have little in common: born in the Southern Midlands, Fuller is now in his early 60s and has never been widely identified with one leadership contender’s particular camp. One of the 147 new MPs elected as part of the 2010 ‘golden generation’, he had to watch as many of his contemporaries like Sajid Javid, Priti Patel and Liz Truss raced up the greasy pole to grab ministerial berths.