Amber Rudd’s fighting fund

Amber Rudd is frequently touted as a frontrunner in any Tory leadership race, but the Home Secretary has kept schtum on whether or not she actually fancies her chances. So, is Rudd secretly readying herself for a shot at getting the top job when May steps down? Mr S. only asks because Rudd lists a donation towards a ‘fighting fund’ in the latest MPs’ register of interests:

Of course, the money is probably going towards ensuring that Rudd actually manages to cling on in her marginal constituency of Hastings and Rye. She narrowly avoided being ousted from the seat at last year’s snap election, beating her Labour rival by just 346 votes. Buoyed by that close contest, Corbynistas have set up their own ‘get rid of Rudd’ fighting fund, which has so far only raised a paltry half of its intended total. Rudd’s latest £5,000 pay cheque means she is now well ahead of the £1,800 raised by those trying to give her the boot at another election.