Lovely material.

Lovely stuff Jamie.

They need a moderate contender.

As you're on the inside more than anyone here, I've been interested to know what your views on the candidates were/would be since Cameron's flounce. But you're wise to not promise anything to the chain of communication back to the contenders.

Yesterday I'd got used to Boris pulling out within 5 seconds and then had confidence in May after her announcement speech.

Then came Gove's 5,000 word speech. Wow. What an incredible and inspirational speech. Probably the most positive vision of the UK I can remember hearing for a long time. I was completely taken in by it. But there are a few problems.

1. He laid out a vision that would take at least 5 parliamentary terms to start to fulfil. But I suppose we always chop and change and go round in circles.

2. His vision is really Labour's traditional aim. Is it achievable? I don't mean that Labour tried and failed (New Labour didn't and Old Labour financially crippled the country). I mean is it achievable in a Tory govt and with Brexit?

3. Brexit is top priority. Surely?

4. He's a politician.

5. He's a deceitful little rascal.

6. To some he's still just Michael Gove.

NUMBER 3 is why May is ahead for me. Track record in negotiating on our top priority right now. Problem I have is her stalling on triggering article 50 till next year.

Will have to look at Fox. He's certainly no less appealing than your average Tory, but it'll all be down to the Tory members, not us. Still fascinating. If you'd never looked into politics before last Thursday you'd be addicted from the exhilaration. Far better than the Euros and England v Iceland.

COYP

I'm not a million miles away from agreeing your logic.

Gove - sh1t stirrer, untrustworthy.
May - Weak, Was Remain, upset the Old Bill, scrawny looking with bags under her eyes!
Fox - Not enough support from fellow MP's.
Crabb - Beardy non entity

Leadsom - City Financier for about 20 years before moving to politics. So has experience of the real world and was an enthusiastic Brexit campaigner with no apparent skeletons in the cupboard. Not bad t1ts for a 50+ woman either.

It's a very plausible theory and pretty much what I thought the morning of Gove's announcement and BJ's withdrawal (ooh err).

It'll be up to your membership once it's no doubt down to May and Leadsom. I see strengths in both of them. I see wither of them winning a general election. The biggest question for me is who will negotiate our exit best and not come out with nothing or make a full throttled reverse.

It's as if 2 women have arrived to calm things and provide a bit of balance following the boys playing their games and destroying each other. When Andrew Marr produces a programme on this decade and/or this episode, he'll take this kind of angle.

COYP