The Tory leadership race shows why so many feel ‘politically homeless’

Is it fair for the Conservative Party membership to decide who the next prime minister is?

Whoever comes out on top in the race to succeed Theresa May will have a place in the history books as the first prime minister directly elected by the members of their party.

The last two PMs to take over outside a general election – Ms May herself and Gordon Brown – were effectively chosen by acclamation, as no rivals made it on to the ballot paper.

In earlier days, Tory leaders were selected by the party’s MPs (Margaret Thatcher, John Major) or – in the distant past – by a wholly undemocratic process of anointment by unidentified grandees. Labour picked leaders like Tony Blair or Neil Kinnock by a complex system of “electoral colleges” carefully balancing the interests of members, unions and MPs.