The Tory leadership hustings are a reminder why the Conservatives do not deserve to be in power a day longer.
One by one the contenders highlighted the problems facing the country without once admitting their party was responsible.
Penny Mordaunt was right to note public services are in a “desperate state”. Tom Tugendhat was right to promise to restore trust and Liz Truss was right that more needs to be done to help with the cost-of-living crisis.
All agreed there is a desperate need to build more homes. But the blame for all these problems lies squarely on the shoulders of the party which has been in power since 2010.
Whoever wins the Tory race, and it is pitiful line-up of has-beens and wannabes, they cannot escape their responsibility for the past.
They have failed the country for the last 12 years and they will continue to fail the country until we have a change of government.
Plan for heat
Next's week’s soaring temperatures have prompted the Met Office to issue an extreme heat warning for the first time.
This is not a freak weather event. Heatwaves will become more common and more intense.
The Government not only needs to do more to prevent global warming, it needs to be better prepared for these extreme events.
Britain faces widespread disruption next week with the heat affecting the NHS, work and travel.
But so far no guidance has been issued to schools or firms on safe indoor temperatures.
The new Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, appears to have gone into hiding.
When the heatwave has been forecast for days, ministers cannot blame heatstroke for their failure to plan for this emergency.
Shaken by Ian
A newly discovered notebook by Ian Fleming reveals that the Bond author had some very old-fashioned views.
He should have written “For your eyes only” on the cover.
