Weekly Highlights

Few leadership contests in the history of the Tory party have been more important, says James Forsyth, and there’s never been a more crowded field – or a more divided one. It’s down to cabinet and non-cabinet members, he says: he reckons we’re in for a rematch of Gove vs Boris (if the courts allow). Jonathan Sumption, midway through his brilliant Reith Lectures, writes this week’s diary and says there’s only one candidate on people’s lips in Austria: ‘Who is this Joris Hobson who is going to be your next prime minister?’ Dominic Raab has other ideas, and tells Katy Balls about them: he almost solved Brexit last time, he says, and could do again. And what about BoJo’s consort? Lara Prendergast imagines a No. 10 with the smart, environmentally minded Carrie Symonds in Downing Street. But is she green enough to ditch Larry, the No. 10 cat? Mary Wakefield explains how cats are environmental liabilities and asks how vegans can justify owning these psychotic furry killing machines. Quentin Tarantino has made a career out of the comic and gory: he explains how Once Upon a Time in the West was his inspiration. Given that the end of his Reservoir Dogs (the circular firing squad) has been the blueprint for every Tory leadership contest since, it’s good to know how life imitates art. I hope you enjoy the issue.

Fraser Nelson
Editor