Why not let the MPs choose their man, then give ordinary Tories the right of veto?

Much nonsense is being written about new ways for the Conservative party to choose its leader. The plan being floated — that MPs might offer constituency chairmen a shortlist to choose from — is absurd. It would have produced Iain Duncan Smith. Everybody can guess who the five would be this time, but one or two stand little chance of winning their colleagues’ hearts.

No membership rebellion is brewing, but journalists need stories. ‘No big problem about change of Tory leadership rules’ is not a story; but it is never difficult for a reporter seeking more interesting news to locate a local association chairman here, or an exceptionally zealous activist there, prepared to declare that ordinary members will not give up their powers without a fight.

But they will. They never particularly wanted them in the first place. If the status quo were that the ordinary membership had no role at all in selecting a leader, there would not be a popular movement now to acquire one.