Next Leader Must Be Bold, Brave And Inspire Electorate

'Her performances have been a shining light amongst the gloom'

- Patrick O'Flynn

THE Conservative Party is in a hole and it is largely one of its own making. Spooked by a hostile broadcast media, it has ditched an extraordinary election-winning prime minister in mid-term.

But there is no more time to lament the passing of Boris Johnson, a premier who assumed that his strengths were so apparent he never bothered to work on his weaknesses.

Instead, the Tories must rapidly find a charismatic new leader who people will follow as they once followed Boris.

There is no point in the party simply installing a more conventional or managerial figure who served in his Cabinets.

In two years time, possibly less, it must make a case for being granted an unprecedented fifth successive term in government. And it must do so not against a Marxist revolutionary like Jeremy Corbyn, but against Sir Keir Starmer who despite maybe because of his low-wattage personality is unlikely to frighten the horses.

So the Tories need to find a compelling character with star quality and a readily understandable mission for Britain. A mere presentable mid-ranking Cabinet minister or re-tread from the Theresa May era - a Grant Shapps or a Jeremy Hunt - simply won't cut the mustard.