'I see a Tory Party delighted to be in a state of chaos' - Toby Neal column
Leaderless, rudderless, looking for ideas... So why is the Conservative Party in such good cheer?
There is a sense of liberation. No longer are they spearcarriers and apologists for "14 years of Tory chaos."
They have been freed from the burdens of office to wallow in nearly 14 weeks of Labour chaos, with rioting on the streets, prisoners released early, donorgate, a stagnant economy, an unpopular Chancellor – she hasn't even set a Budget yet – and MPs with furrowed brows on the government back benches.
Yes, the good news just keeps on coming when you're in opposition.
And really it doesn't matter who leads the party as he or she is only going to be a placeholder. There again, that's what Sir Keir Starmer seemed to be after he succeeded Jeremy Corbyn.
Nevertheless, we have to be guided by evidence and past performance, and based on the average tenure of recent Tory leaders there will be plenty of time to try out several before the next general election.
The candidates to replace Rishi Sunak have been setting out their stalls.
The four left standing in the leadership selection process can be divided into two groups, depending on how they rate on the foot-in-mouth meter, and how acceptable they are to the BBC and the Guardian.
