Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

PMQs showed the damage the leadership debate is causing to the Tory party

Last night’s Tory leadership debate was an illustration of where the wider party has ended up: fractious, confused, and without a clear plan for what to do next. Today’s Prime Minister’s Questions showed the damage that these blue-on-blue attacks are doing to the Conservative party.

A number of the candidates have criticised the policies of their own government particularly when it comes to spending. It was inevitable that this was going to get picked up by the Opposition as an attack line. Labour’s Paul Williams pointed out that Sajid Javid had pledged to reverse Theresa May’s police cuts, while other MPs either made bids for the spending review or warned the Prime Minister not to make commitments which would bind the hands of the next leader. May is reported to be planning a huge boost to the schools budget, which has infuriated both her Chancellor and leadership contenders who worry that they won’t be able to fulfil their own campaign pledges.

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