It is the moment to decide whether to go for a leader who is prepared to tackle immigration, or for one who has failed to heed the public’s calls to reduce it.
A general election is rolling down the tracks. And he is the man best placed to see off Corbyn and Farage.
The most successful are those who can put their values to work and build a broad coalition, rather than exploit divisions.
The best way to reach across the divide and attempt to gain the trust of ex-Conservative Remainers, is to accept the inevitable.
The match-up between the two sets of numbers is extremely close.
We don’t know whether they believe it to be prudent or desirable or both – but the message to the leadership contenders is clear.
Also: Welsh and Scottish Labour throw their weight behind EU referendum re-run after poll drubbing; UUP and Sinn Fein leaders in trouble.
To date, they have had to endure a parade of candidates speaking to Westminster, from Westminster, about Westminster.
If we are to win back voters flirting with the Brexit Party, the Party must use this contest to demonstrate its ironclad commitment to leaving in October.
Ken Clarke summed it up recently when he argued that there was now no chance of Britain being a stable member of the EU.
Exploring how people voted in last week’s election, why they did so, and when they made up their mind is instructive.
The Conservatives are down to four MEPs: Hannan, McIntyre, Mobarik, and Van Orden.
“We’re absolutely determined to proceed with our campaign to stop Brexit.”
“If you don’t leave on October 31st, then the scores you’ve seen for the Brexit Party today will be repeated”, he warns.
We pause only to say: watch the turnout. What happens to it in areas that trended heavily to Leave or Remain in 2016 is likely to be significant.