TORY MPs like to think they are the “most sophisticated electorate in the world” when it comes to crowning their leaders.
But something went badly wrong yesterday.
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James Cleverly came third, just 24 hours after being top.
The showdown will now be between two candidates from the right of the party.
Cleverly had gained traction among softer Tories as a way of stopping exactly this scenario from taking place.
The affable centrist took it on the chin as cries of foul play echoed.
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My hunch is too many Tory MPs thought he was so secure they could vote to try to boot their least favoured candidate out.
If you didn’t want Jenrick or Badenoch you could vote for the other in a bid to force them into third.
But it has clearly backfired.
Just at the very moment the Tory party needs to come together a whole fresh round of bad blood was created in an instant.
Now it’s over to the members — who gave the nation Liz Truss the last time they were asked.
What could go wrong?
