Rishi Sunak may have performed best under the studio spotlights tonight by doling out harsh economic realities.
But it was Labour strategists who were rubbing their hands with glee as the five candidates for Prime Minister ripped apart each other’s records on live TV.
Quite simply, Keir Starmer ’s party couldn’t buy this sort of coverage to highlight Tory infighting and navel-gazing as families battle a cost-of-living crisis.
Sunak went for the economically responsible approach, appealing to Tory MPs and members’ heads by setting out the state of the finances rather than aiming for their hearts by pledging unfunded tax cuts.
Penny Mordaunt was, as we have become accustomed to over the past week, light on detail and once again seemed ill-prepared.
Liz Truss was only good when attacking Sunak, until one remembers she sat in the same Cabinet as him and, through collective responsibility, publicly agreed with the tax hikes against which she now rails.
It’s unclear if Tom Tugendhat is parodying himself with the stuck record of his military service and pleas for a “clean start”.
Who did you think won the debate? Answer in the comments below
He is rightly proud of his Army record but is there nothing else he can point to? Apparently not.
Assuming plain-speaking Kemi Badenoch fails to reach the final run-off, she is definitely one to watch next time the Tories depose their leader.
Her story of coming to Britain as a child and rising through the ministerial ranks is a template for aspiration - one Conservatives love to hear.
Rishi Sunak
HIGH POINT: “If we’re not for sound money, what is the point in the Conservative Party?”
LOW POINT: Visibly uncomfortable defending his wife’s previous non-dom tax status
BACKERS: 101 at the latest ballot. Supporters include Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Health Secretary Steve Barclay and Care Minister Gillian Keegan
LATEST ODDS: 11/8
Liz Truss
HIGH POINT: Warning the UK is set to plunge into recession because of Rishi Sunak's tax hike.
LOW POINT: When Penny Mordaunt demanded to know: “Liz, are you leading your campaign?”
BACKERS: 64 in the latest ballot. Supporters include Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng
LATEST ODDS: 10/3
Penny Morduant
HIGH POINT: “People want a break with the toxic politics of the past.”
LOW POINT: Clashing with Kemi Badenoch over Morduant’s record on trans rights, Badenoch told her: “Penny, I was just telling the truth.”
BACKERS: 83 in the latest ballot. Supporters include former Brexit Secretary David Davis, ex-Culture Minister Damian Collins and former Defence Minister Harriet Baldwin
LATEST ODDS: 9/4
Tom Tugendhat
HIGH POINT: Taunted rivals over how he was untainted by serving under Boris Johnson, saying: “Even really good people lent credibility to the chaos.”
LOW POINT: Attacked by Kemi Badenoch for sniping from the sidelines, she said: “Serving in government is not easy, it requires difficult decisions. Tom has never done that - it’s very easy for him to criticise.”
BACKERS: 49 in the latest ballot. Supporters include International Trade Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green and Northern Research Group chairman Jake Berry
LATEST ODDS: 50/1
Kemi Badenoch
HIGH POINT: Spoke passionately about her background of coming to Britain as a child then “flipping burgers” and “cleaning toilets” to make ends meet.
LOW POINT: Her question to Rishi Sunak on Covid bailouts backfired by giving him an opportunity to trumpet his coronavirus rescue package.
BACKERS: 49 in the latest ballot. Supporters include former Levelling-up Secretary Michael Gove, ex-Business Minister Lee Rowley and former Culture Minister Julia Lopez
LATEST ODDS: 6/1
- Odds courtesy of Betfair
