I have seen the future of British politics: Long-Bailey vs Sunak

Rebecca Long-Bailey was a little more prime ministerial than Rishi Sunak in the ‘future leaders’ TV debate

Rebecca Long-Bailey came out just ahead in the debate (Reuters)

The BBC’s idea was an interesting one. To stage a mock Prime Minister’s Questions of the future, featuring the possible next leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties. The format was a little confusing, because the BBC, having to be impartial, couldn’t cast either Rebecca Long-Bailey or Rishi Sunak as the prime minister, so it had to go for a many-sided debate in which the two principals were treated equally – and their clash was complicated by side attacks from unexpected directions from the minor parties.

Long-Bailey and Sunak had been chosen by their leaders to go into battle on their behalf: there could be no stronger indication of their favoured status as possible successors. She is only shadow trade secretary, and he the most junior member of the cabinet as chief secretary to the Treasury, but they both bore the Mark of Approval from On High.

Long-Bailey started off sounding most prime ministerial. She devoted half her opening remarks to the terrible news of the killings on London Bridge, on which she spoke well, before turning to the “big choice” facing the country in the election.