1/ Great interview of Lord Heseltine by @mrjamesob on @LBC earlier. Really crystallised some thoughts that have been with me at least since the referendum. I’ve never voted Tory but it’s only in recent years I’ve come to passionately hate the party.

2/ In the same way that some right-leaning political commentators appear to genuinely welcome Keir Starmer’s leadership because they value what a strong Opposition can do to improve a government, I’d welcome a sincere, principled Conservative party.

3/ On nicher economic matters, I’m on very shaky ground. My instincts are left-wing but when you believe that the ‘other side’ are acting in good faith, transparently and because they think their path leads to the fairest outcomes, it’s useful having the debate.

4/ But the party of Heseltine no longer exists. That’s genuinely sad for democracy and the likes of Heseltine. All trust - evaporated. Quite something that Boris Johnson’s vanity and entitlement would lead to: a damaging Brexit he never believed in; the likely breakup of the UK;

5/ tens of thousands of preventable deaths in a pandemic through an inability to form a cabinet of talent and experience rather than unquestioning Brexit loyalty; the effective death of the Conservative party; and the diminution of one of the world’s oldest liberal democracies.

6/ None of this is exaggeration. I wish it was. /Ends