One of the big misconceptions in British politics is that we are most obsessed with the Americans. Granted, the number of parliamentary staffers with the title “chief of staff” even if they’re working for a backbench MP points to the West Wing effect. But the country that really sets the tone in Westminster these days is Australia.
It’s not just matters of security, like the Aukus submarine deal, or trade that interest both parties here about our antipodean ally. It’s winning elections. The Tories were first at it, importing the strategist Lynton Crosby, who among other things masterminded David Cameron’s surprise 2015 majority, followed by his right-hand man Isaac Levido, credited with the success of Boris Johnson’s 2019 campaign. Both have worked on successive campaigns
