One of the more frequent charges against the Tory frontbench is that it lacks depth and breadth. Once you have played your Cameron, Osborne, Hague and Gove there is not much left in the hand. Or so the argument goes. Yet, to my mind, this argument was always overdone and – as the Brown government begins to self-destruct – voters are taking a closer look at what the Tory frontbench has to offer. In many cases I think they will like what they see.
Take, for instance, Andrew Mitchell, the Shadow Development Secretary, who put in a fine performance on the Today Programme this morning. Mitchell has not always been well-liked by the party rank-and-file (or, indeed, by the blogosphere), and, among the Tory’s foreign policy beasts, he has always been seen as the weaker animal.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in