Vote Cast

The secret location, somewhere in Yorkshire and Humberside, was the Barbican in York.  Convenient geographically but I decided not to go.  I felt I had already heard enough and had made up my mind.  I think my decision was vindicated when a friend, who attended, sent me this report:

“Having seen both candidates last night, and heard the debate extended well beyond Brexit (which I confess was a cardinal omission in respect of my comments below), my own views are firmer than ever. If we want a PM likely to convince the country of the advantages of leaving the EU, achieve our departure on time, deal with violent crime, introduce effective strategies to drive up the growth rate, drive forward economic development beyond London and the South East, restore some confidence in democracy, and have the slightest chance of beating his rivals in the next General Election (and that means not only Corbyn but perhaps even more importantly for us Nigel Farage, from whom we desperately need to win back disillusioned voters) my own personal view is this:

Erase any lingering doubts form our minds that ‘It Has to be Hunt’ and replace them forthwith with ‘It Had Better Be Boris!!”

My Times today reports that Jeremy Hunt is urging members to wait and see – to assess the TV debates and “try before you buy.”  However, the same newspaper, in its editorial, concludes that Boris is “the only candidate with a credible chance of meeting the three challenges correctly identified in his campaign strategy:  deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Mr Corbyn.”  I don’t think there is anything more Jeremy Hunt could say that would convince me that he was the better candidate in these three critical regards.  So that’s it – my vote is cast and in the post.