Amber Rudd Vs ???

[Ric.ror]

It would appear Ms Rudd is to represent the torrid at the next televised debate. Who should Labour nominate? Could be fun if it's Ms Abbot

[naomi24]

ag, I think she's very capable - just not interested in getting into fisticuffs with her opponents.

I confess I watched only a little of tonight's proceedings - I feel quite weary of politics - but Jeremy Corbyn seems such an irritable little man. I'm not surprised he's been married three times.

[naomi24]

v_e, take heart ..... the prospect of Diane Abbott as Home Secretary should be enough to convince the most 'wavery' of electors. ;o)

[agchristie]

It's all so amateurish. The errors and oversights, bizarre political broadcasts, etc has created an impression that all parties were just not ready for a snap election thus providing the electorate with head scratching and bewilderment.

[naomi24]

ag, I listen to Corbyn and his motley crew. No head scratching or bewilderment here. Simply no contest.

[agchristie]

I think some of the most ardent Tory supporters have to be alarmed at some aspects of their campaign Naomi.

It should have been a 'no contest' but I think it has become one and although I don't think Labour will force a hung parliament, the Tories should be making a better fist of it.

[sunny-dave]

Come on Naomi - take the blinkers off - the light won't blind you, just for a minute.

JC (like him or not) is having a good week or two - making a much better fist of the campaign than was hoped/feared - everyone expected a car-crash, instead he's projected himself well and picked up a good few votes on the way. You may think he's a dangerous lefty hypocrite, but that's not how he's coming across right now.

By contrast, TM's having a shockingly bad campaign - endless fluffs and fudges - the Tory strategists must be in depair at her inadequacy.

I'm not expecting you to be converted, but surely you can bring yourself (however grudgingly) to admit that JC is ahead of TM on points, even if her win by a knockout on June 8th is a racing certainty?

[ladybirder]

AGC, I have a friend who works with her and what you say is true. She is not a warm person, nor approachable, keeps changing her mind and drives the civil servants mad, and he thinks she doesn't have leadership qualities. He thought she was a good Home Secretary though.

[agchristie]

Ladybirder, interesting!

I know she doesn't do small talk. Being regarded as a good Home Secretary doesn't necessarily translate into having the transferable skills to make a good PM.

It's like so many cabinet positions where people have been ill-slotted in, square pegs in round holes that it really does make you wonder about the decision making process from the PM's past and present.

[naomi24]

ag, I understand what you’re saying, but I would hope most people recognise that telling the electorate the truth - that some things might not be to their liking - rather than presenting sugar-coated promises in a package of impossible idealism, is realistic. Perhaps we’re accustomed to our politicians presenting us with sugar coated promises at election time, and so that’s what we expect to hear, but we should remember that sugar coating melts very quickly.

sunny-dave, my blinkers were never on. I think he’s a dreadful little man who’s never grown up. Anyone who believes what he's promising is a fool. He doesn’t represent me.

[sunny-dave]

I wasn't asking what you thought/believed - merely asking you to look at the facts and admit that (like him or not) Corbyn is having 'a good campaign' and May is having a shocker ...

"More than a third of voters (37%) say their opinion of the prime minister is more negative than at the start of the campaign, against 25% who say it is more positive.

The opposite is true of the Labour leader, with 39% saying they have a more positive view of Corbyn compared with 14% who now have a more negative view.

In the middle of April, the prime minister had a massive 56-point lead over Corbyn in net approval ratings (when the percentage who disapprove is subtracted from those who approve). Now that has been cut to 22 points"

Not opinions, numbers ...

[agchristie]

Naomi, establishing the 'truth' of certain matters is sometimea a difficult task though when politicians,on all sides, persist on evading simple answers whether it be relating to terrorism watch lists, costings for services or whatever.

We, the electorate, are meant to make informed decisions on this basis!

Remember the claims on both side of the 'Brexit' debate?

Wouldn't it be nice to get straightforward answers that are unequivocal?

Idealistic I know!

[ladybirder]

Yes, square peg in a round hole sums her up I think AGC. I don't think she's enjoying her tenure at the helm at all.
I asked my friend who he thought would make a good (Tory) PM. He thought about it and said Michael Gove. Food for thought.

[naomi24]

sunny-dave, I suppose if people are being swayed then Corbyn is having a good campaign - although I can't see it myself. I see an awful lot of spinning going on, but nothing else.

ag, it would be nice to get straightforward answers, but all we have to go on is what we're presented with. People will vote as they will - but heaven help this country if they vote Labour.

[agchristie]

Ladybirder, despite the pressures of the job in hand, you would think Mrs May would be enjoying the challenge and having what looked like an insurmountable lead and calling the election herself, should have borne that out.

However, she has not been at her best at times, or maybe she has?

What is for sure is that if she succeeds she will need to sharpen up some skills if she is going to convince her doubters that our best interests are served...

[agchristie]

Naomi, if we are to 'suffer' a hung parliament then that's a helluva lot of successful spinning!

[Jackdaw33]

I must confess, as a dyed-in-the wool Tory, that I am disMAYEd by her performance so far. If she cocks this up big-time and lands us with Corbyn neither the party or the country would ever forgive her. Perhaps we would have been better off with Boris after all.

[Jackdaw33]

Last week Electoral Calculus were predicting a Tory majority of 176. Today it's down to 88, exactly half that. If alarm bells aren't ringing they damn well ought to be.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//...as a dyed-in-the wool Tory//

You surprise me, Jackdaw. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool conservative. Why (tactical reasons apart), therefore, would I want to vote Cameron/May/Rudd or any other of the modern Tory type?

I don't think I've ever voted "Tory", even when Thatcher of precious memory was in charge.

[jim360]

Oh goodness me, it is fun watching all the Tory supporters getting a little nervous!

[Jackdaw33]

Do shut up, Jim. If the unthinkable happens and we end up with Corbyn you will be laughing on the other side of your face,