The greatest asset of politicians is not subtlety or skill but a sense of unstoppability. The day after the latest slugfest TV debate in the Tory leadership race, we can argue about whether Rishi Sunak’s immigrant opportunity story was better than Liz’s gritty northern empathy for underserved children in poor schools. We could measure the credibility of their fiscal plans (his are safer for UK plc, hers are more of a lightning jolt flash of risky tax cuts). But the impression that lingers is that Truss looked tenacious while Sunak was fighting for air.
For some, that led to the “mansplaining” charge, though this is frankly a bit of a cheap shot — the “splaining” is a one-on-one debate and both candidates are entitled to ram their points home. The next stint of this race depends on who deals better with their stereotypes. Truss might be deemed “bonkers” (lazy Twitter-speak for a female with unapproved-of views), she may be “mad as a box of snakes” (Dominic Cummings) or have a “metallic voice and irritating raucous laugh” (Paul Dacre).Yet the sense of relentlessness that her opponents mistake for being odd is also what is powering her campaign — uncritical self-belief. Sunak can make palpable hits on “fairytale” economics and whether Truss would really like the higher interest rates her policies could usher in. This may also be the point on which fortunes turn, as Tory members weigh up the thrills of Liz and the chills of Sunak’s doomy warnings. So far, she is the true, new, blue goddess. With the unstoppable glint in her eye.
