Pointless election won't change policy priorities

One of Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt will be UK's next Prime Minister (Image: Standard.co.uk)

This time next month, the UK will have a new Prime Minister. Either be Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt will be given the keys to 10 Downing Street, with the country's destiny in the hands of 160,000 members of the Conservative Party. The thought of this has, of course, angered many people who want a say but can't. Unfortunately for them, this is a system people must accept.

To be honest, as someone who isn't a Tory member, I am glad I don't have to choose between Johnson and Hunt. Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon somewhat humourously compared to this choice as opting to either being run over by a bus or lorry. She isn't far from wrong, though if there was a choice, I'd choose being run over by a bus. Joking aside, if I did have to vote and you put a gun next to my head, I'd say, "Fine, I'll pick Jeremy." What I do believe, however, is that it is a pointless election and the outcome will make very little difference to Britain's standing in the European Union exit debate.

What is slightly refreshing is that both candidates hold different ideas in terms of how, and when the UK ceases its EU membership. Johnson has the 31st October set in his mind, come what may. Hunt offers flexibility, with his hope of a Hallowe'en goodbye, but if he believes breakthroughs are being made by that time, he's willing to extend the deadline. Regardless, Brussels continue to insist they aren't in a position to renegotiate what Theresa May mustered. I don't blame them, since it has taken long enough for every EU member to agree on it - it could take even more months for them all to unanimously agree on something rather different, or reword a piece of legislation that says something different, but mean exactly the same as before.

When looking at this leadership election, I can only see Boris Johnson as victorious. In my eyes, he won it even before Theresa May was appointed Prime Minister three years ago. No private life crisis will stop him from achieving his dream. His partner, Carrie Symonds, is a PR chief for goodness sake. She wouldn't want to jeopardise his chances as, should he be PM, her dreams of being right at the top is reality too. Before you know, the drama from the other week - when police visited Symonds's house after a neighbour heard a commotion in her property and contacted emergency services - was probably orchestrated by her and Johnson. We simply won't know.

The 'Back Boris' team will never hit its campaign trail efforts to beyond the second gear, which will only bother Jeremy Hunt, who is desperately trying his best to up his game. He is dying to challenge Johnson to many live TV debates, but of course it won't happen, not unless it was on Boris's terms. I'm personally glad there are only a small handful of TV debates. There isn't any need for them. What is the point of broadcasting a debate when the small proportion of the viewing audience will be able to make a difference? Hustings among Tory members are appropriate for this election, as it will also reduce the level of obsession and hysteria the media is creating on this. Of course debates are important in this, but again, only in Boris's terms, so it seems. The non-Tory public will need to resist judging either until there is an opportunity for them to, i.e. in by-elections or when fresh policies are put to the table by either Prime Minister.

What I am interested, however, is who these candidates want to bring in for the vital roles that would affect the daily lives of Britons. Who will be the country's next Health Secretary, next Chancellor, next Education Secretary? This is hugely important as, ultimately, personality overtakes policy, regardless of the election. If the candidates' allies are likeable, across the political spectrum, then they may have a chance of gaining the loss of ground Theresa May suffered from in recent months.

There is some indication of how Conservative MPs voted in order to get the Johnson v Hunt battle we see today. In the final vote by said MPs, more than half put an X next to Boris, and Jeremy just squeezed past the challenge of Michael Gove. Will those who backed Gove provide their full backing to Hunt? It's clear that those who never voted for Boris, don't want him to lead. There are already threats of no confidence votes from Tory politicians if Johnson does win and pushes forward a 'no-deal Brexit', and Labour is gaining traction in their push to force a general election by forming alliances with other parties.

Regardless of this election outcome, the EU exit is just a sideshow to the issues that impact our daily lives. The future of public services, law and order and transport will still need to be prioritised, and in the right hands. The economy will need to be a top priority too, especially if - and most probably when - the government faces a £39 billion bill from Brussels after the exit is finalised. Both Johnson and Hunt are dying to make their own mark, and show that their approach and ideas of how the UK is shaped is different compared to how May and David Cameron did things. I will give them a benefit of a doubt, for now.