Perhaps naively, the Daily Mail had hoped that the… Tory leadership contest would be a cordial and civil affair.
That the candidates would respectfully debate their political philosophies, while expounding compelling visions on how to revitalize the country.
To widespread dismay, however, it quickly degenerated into the Westminster equivalent of a knife fight in a phone booth. There have been vicious personal attacks and slanderous slanders against the runners and riders, including lurid accusations about their private lives and financial arrangements.
There are even reports of some campaign teams handing ‘dirty files’ to their rivals to Labor for dissemination.
Such tacky tactics must come to an end. They not only poison relations between Tory MPs, but also make the party look unprofessional.
As for the mature issue of policy, only Rishi Sunak makes a point of not cutting taxes until inflation is under control. While his opponents have all pledged to lower the tax burden to help troubled families, some of their more glaring proposals border on the absurd.
As for the mature issue of policy, only Rishi Sunak makes a virtue of not cutting taxes until inflation is under control
No one believes in lower taxes more than the Post. But unless the promises are credible and expensive, the candidates and the party will look foolish.
(Although it is extremely ironic for Sir Keir Starmer, who tirelessly tried to install unreconstructed Marxist John McDonnell at the Treasury, to mock the candidates’ “arms race of fantasy economics.”)
So far, Mr Sunak is the big favorite to win the Tory crown. Yes, he has political weight. But he has pushed taxes to nearly 80 years – embarrassing for a Tory. And, of course, many think his writing was obliterated for his key role in overthrowing Boris Johnson.
If the Tory’s right-wing party wants to stop a Sunak coronation, they must rally behind one candidate to avoid the risk of their vote being split. It is imperative that aspirants look long and sternly at themselves – and at each other – and ask honestly: who is best placed to beat him?
Everything else is self-indulgence. With the deranged impeachment of Boris Johnson, that’s more than enough!
The country faces enormous challenges, not least the cost of living.
The top two serious candidates should go to the party members for the final vote. It would be very unsatisfactory if the process was disrupted by politics to prevent them from making a good choice.
That would not be good for the future of the party – nor for the country.
A flying shame
For many of us, July marks the unofficial start of summer.
With the school holidays just around the corner, people are looking forward to a few days of foreign sunshine – perhaps the first since Covid travel restrictions. But instead of being able to relax, millions of travelers are brooding and smoking in anger.
Chaos has put our airports to shame for months, with dozens of canceled and delayed flights ruining family vacations. And when the exodus begins after school, the problems will no doubt worsen.
The airlines, airports and government are engaged in a non-elevating blame game, accusing each other of failing to prepare for a post-pandemic surge in demand.
Chaos has put our airports to shame for months, with dozens of canceled and delayed flights ruining family vacations. Pictured: Travelers queue at security at London’s Heathrow Airport
In the middle, as always, are the long-suffering passengers, who pay dazzling ticket prices only to be treated so contemptuously.
The misery is due to staff shortages, but if so, why has recruitment been so woefully inadequate?
Operators and airports were the first to cry out for the restrictions to be lifted, giving them the chance to recover lost billions.
Unless the industry takes action quickly, vacationers will be tempted to spend their money on staycations.