I’ve mentioned before that for me the man to lead the UK Tories is Dr. Liam Fox, who is coming back to Washington next week to deliver a major speech on China to The Heritage Foundation that is expected to be rather sound. The Telegraph had a profile of the man yesterday that contained much of his good sense, such as the following, about his car accident where a drunk driver ran into him then died:

“The accident changed my life. You go through feeling you could have done something different, you could have avoided it. I knew I was driving within the speed limit, on the right side of the road, and he was over the alcohol limit. But I still remember it every time I drive past the spot. The things that you regard as a big disaster in politics are nothing of the sort.”
Politicians – even Tory leadership candidates – need a greater sense of perspective, he says. “Nothing I have encountered in politics at any point has given me the same feeling as seeing a baby with a cord round its neck. As a doctor you know that here is a little life and you have seconds to act or that is it. When people call you Dr Death on the front page of a tabloid it’s irritating and upsetting but it doesn’t matter.”

Senators take note. Also in the article is an aside where it is revealed that President Bush told various world leaders to “listen to Liam.” He is, of course, all too quick to point out that no-one knew who he was talking about. With any luck, that will change.