I think Michael Portillo is right. It certainly looks as though IDS has pressed the self destruct button on the Conservatives once again. You have to ask why he continues to pursue a confrontational stance with the substantial moderate section of the party, and persist in developing policy, making statements and forging attitudes that are so clearly at odds with the middle classes and middle ground – the areas where elections are won and lost.
This sort of thing just plays further into the hands of Charles Kennedy and the LibDems, who increasingly appear to be the only party that offer a sensible alternative to the incumbents.