The previous comments about the Battersea Tory’s Portillo-chaired “Open Primary” on Wednesday brought out into the open the widely held belief that they are a fix. Associations can select any candidates they like so long as they are Cameroonie. There is also the repeated allegation that the process is being hidden away from the scrutiny of the media. Why?

Transparency seems the essence of an Open Primary. The process in itself should draw people in to activism. What is going on?

Difficult to price odds on the result because it may succeed in drawing in non-party members. Which means it could depend on the performance on the day. There is always the possibility that Labour or LibDem supporters could organise themselves and vote in support of the dripping wet Jane Ellison. However she may be a bit too left-wing for New Labour supporters.