For Conservative leadership candidates who make it through the latest cull and into the weekend, a glistening prize is on offer: television debates. And given the relative narrowness of the debate thus far, centred mostly on tax cuts, it is a vital opportunity to scrutinise each leadership hopeful on a broader range of policies, from the cost of living and defence policy to housing and childcare.
Considering the small size of the selectorate that will pick the new prime minister, these debates may be the closest the wider public will come to dissecting the policies of our next leader. Set piece moments such as these can make or break a campaign. In recent times, Nick Clegg and Jeremy Corbyn have used them to shake up a race, while David Cameron’s speech without notes in 2005 is credited with helping to crown him leader.
