Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said the issues being raised in the leadership race as key to Conservatives - above all Brexit - did not reflect the priorities of the country as a whole. Professor Bale also says the fact that Euro-sceptics adore Truss while suspecting Sunak of pro-EU views — despite that fact that he backed “leave” in the referendum — shows the importance of image over substance in politics.Reflecting on the historically diverse slate of candidates in the Party's leadership race, Queen Mary's professor of politics Rainbow Murray commented: “This is all happening very intentionally. The Conservatives have long had an image problem; they looked old-fashioned, stuck in the past, and not known for inclusive values. They decided they needed to reinvent themselves.”
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