As Tory leadership candidates try to appear statesmanlike it’s all kicking off behind the scenes. At a large hustings in Wiltshire on Thursday organisers thought they’d try an innocent enough ballot of members at the end of proceedings to see who impressed attendees most – the results would be published online. They couldn’t even manage that…

Sources from one leadership team say they observed two others – predicted to do badly – aggressively “stuffing ballots.” Another leadership team says their people were entitled to a single vote and delivered it accordingly. Guido is unable to confirm names either way but suffice to say everyone’s accusing everyone…

CCHQ representatives had to be dragged into the debacle and suggested after much complaining that the straw poll be abandoned completely. Student politics at its finest – no wonder voters think the Tories are weird now…