There is no true sign at this stage that Portillo is any different. He will not be the leader of the Conservative party before the next election. See the conceit at the start. Without that, he would be nothing to them. But this is a battle which will effectively be waged at the next general election.
Conservatives have to talk about.
There have been too few ripe tales of political intrigue since Gordon Brown dumped Charlie Whelan. There have been too many right-wingers lamenting the wreckage of their influence and the feebleness of William. There have been too many dispossessed Thatcherites looking for a home. There's a real world out there beyond the salon door. Hillary for Chelsea - even Chelsea for Chelsea.