If politics is show business for ugly people, then it is difficult to know what to make of this Conservative leadership beauty parade. The four remaining candidates are taking to the conference stage in Birmingham this week to proffer their case to members. Yet at this point in the contest, all that matters is Tory MPs.
That is because it is only the top two who will make it through to a ballot of ordinary party members. And so each candidate is chasing a tiny number of votes. And each is playing their part. Robert Jenrick is courting the anti-immigration right. Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly the One Nation centre. And, in attacking the apparent burden of maternity pay, Kemi Badenoch seems to be trying to alienate as many voters as possible.
