When will James Cleverly finally hand over power to Mel Stride? The year is 2035 and it's the only question political reporters are asking. Cleverly, the affable but gaffe-prone prime minister, is staring down the latest rebellion from supporters of his impatient chancellor, who at 72 years of age would be Britain's oldest leader by date of first appointment.
It goes on. I wrote an entire draft earlier this afternoon predicated on a Cleverly versus Jenrick or Badenoch contest. My plan was to give it a light edit depending on which of the candidates of the Right he would face. It turns out, neither. This is now a Jenrick versus Badenoch contest.
