Mister benn in acacia avenue. Fits the bill totally. Hasn’t got a clue and changes every day

Did he go to Eton then?

It’s a start

Ha. For a politician, probably an honerst man but a little too left of left for me.

I have never voted Tory and only voted Labour for tactical reasons (although I did like Blaire when he came in), so would ideally look to someone in the middle parties. But I see no statesman-like performers there.

Of the Tories, Tugenhat could be the first Tory leader to draw me to that party if Labour continue to be crap.

However, I would go for a Labour MP. I have been banging the Dan Jarvis drum for years. A centrist, he would alienate as few folk as possible, although the hard right and militant left would hate him... just because.

A retired major from the paras, he ticks the hard man of action box and patriot and would draw tons of male votes and the Tory press barons would struggle to to their usual Labour leader hatchet job.

[Edit. Sorry Hrolf. I forgot that the British media is, apparently, "left wing"]

In 2015 he declined the offer to stand for leader as he had just lost his wife to cancer and had a young family to raise. At the risk of being cynical, that's the entire floating female vote right there and would make the Tory press even more careful in their inevitable attack.

Meanwhile, he spent another 7 years as an effective and popular Mayor of South Yorkshire. That's the northern vote (re-)secured, especially in populous Yorkshire. And, more importantly, it shows evidence of leadership and ability.

He may be hampered by never holding a cabinet or shadow cabinet position. I am honestly not sure that is a handicap as I think Liz or Rishy will find when they go to the polls in 2 years.

The real issue with Jarvis is.. I doubt he is a union man so may lack the backing under their perverse electoral system; and I am not sure he even wants it.

Thought you might.

What are the implications here of a person the 'grassroots' tories and probably the general public, do not want, becoming PM.