Peter Dutton and I were good friends once, and worked together closely in the Howard and Rudd years. Sorry to say, however, more recently we fell out, and it’s fair to say we’re no longer on speaking terms. Things were said and we’re both to blame, but it’s probably irretrievable.

The one thing we have left in common is we both care for the future of the once-great Liberal party, and the future of the centre-right in general.

So, if I’m to offer him any suggestions about policy or politics, and knowing he’s a Spectator reader, it must be through this article.

Dutton...