The current leadership competition within the Tory Party is the second in 4 years to cause an interregnum in the governance of the country. It is perhaps symptomatic of a Tory party which has lost its way and is incapable of providing the leadership needed in what are incredibly dangerous times.

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are like two dinosaurs battling for supremacy, completely focused on securing victory. Both, seeingly oblivious of the massive meteorite hurling toward them in the shape of the cost of living crisis. Much less aware of the mega meteorite following it in global warming.

Like bad generals they are fighting the last war. Showing no sign of being aware, much less competent to deal with, the unprecedented challenges the country and the world faces.

Jeremy Corbyn was accused of being irrelevant because he was pickled in the politics of the 1970’s. However, Liz Truss is equally stuck in a bygone age. Her world is that of the Thatcherite 1980’s and her prescriptions the same. Lower taxes and the rising tide of economic growth lifting all boats. Wealth trickling down rather than being provided through handouts.

Rishi Sunak has a more balanced one nation Tory approach but very much set in economic prescriptions of an orthodoxy which has shown itself to be increasingly irrelevant. Economic forces seem to be operating in ways not covered by the standard theories of the profession. Increasingly, attempts to analyse what is happening fail to reconcile conflicting indicators providing what some have characterised as humbug economics.

Both candidates seem to be set on reducing the size of the state. This is a necessary presumption of Truss tax cuts or Sunak deficit reduction. However, in whatever direction you look, the public sector is in crisis, from the administration of justice, the delivery of health and care services, education at all levels, utility infrastructure and costs and much more. When this is combined with increasing demand in all these areas the reduction in the role of the state looks a very optimistic idea.

The sound and fury of the competition has probably done more for the prospects of a Labour or progressive alliance victory at the next election than secured the future of the Conservative leadership.

For all the noise there remains an absence in the realm of political debate. A failure to focus on issues which are becoming existentially critical. Issues which call for integrated national and international resolution.

In the broadest terms they relate to equality and justice and are set to be driven by the issue of climate change. This will involve the radical restructure of national and global economics, voluntarily or otherwise.

Sunak and Truss are both desperate to tell their electorate what they want to hear. Leadership is about telling them what they need to hear. Even if that is unpalatable and potentially career limiting.