As I sit at Scruton’s Café in Budapest, reading the latest issue of the Hungarian Conservative, I wonder: would Peter Dutton rather be seen dead, or be seen in the capital of Hungary? The northern winter is tough for a Queenslander, a point I more than sympathise with. But my guess is the Liberal leader couldn’t face seeing what a successful conservative government looks like, something he would get a close look at if he came to Budapest.

The Liberal Party proudly disowns the conservative label.