Tory Leadership

[Paigntonian]

Struck by how amateur were the pitches from Gove, Hancock and Gyi.
No access to speechwriters? Gove, I think fatally wounded. As Justice Secretary he agreed with people being sent to prison for using Grade A drugs - though he used them himself. Thought Hunt did well, but Raab better.

[ichkeria]

They all sounded awful to me.
Dominic Raab is like a robot
And what’s Beryl from the Liver Birds doing there?

[ludwig]

I don't like the thought of any of these people running the country. Thank god there'll be a general election soon and …. oh hang on..cancel that thought.

[Old_Geezer]

I've not caught many pitches, but I am aware that few a) Want out regardless on 31st October (or before), no extensions, b) Are prepared to go no-deal, although some are wishy washy enough to suggest they'd leave it on the table (unused ?) c) Have no intent to push May's anti-Brexit deal again with or without hoping to fiddle around the edges, d) Consider prorogation, & e) Rule out further referenda on Brexit and general elections.

Doesn't leave many acceptable candidates left to impress us on other issues and push their unique selling point.

[Tilly2]

Why do they want this job?

[Jackdaw33]

I haven't heard them but I think that whoever is elected will be unacceptable to large sections of the party. Gove, for all his intellect, is uninspiring. What is needed is a well-known figure with the charisma and ability to get people on his side. To that extent I think the only credible candidate is Boris.

[jno]

lust for supreme executive power, Tilly



How times have changed

[Old_Geezer]

It's as near to being top dog as a commoner can get, the pinnacle of their career, as long as they can cope with the pressures. For anyone confident that they can, who wouldn't want it ?

[retrocop]

// To that extent I think the only credible candidate is Boris.//

I agree JD. The only other I favour is Raab. He has had the guts to nail his colours on the mast and state he is quite happy to exit with no deal if the EU parliament continue to treat this country with contempt.
He is saying what this staunch Brexiteer and many others wish to hear. Just pray,should he win the leadership vote, he keeps his word.

[wolf63]

My money is still on Larry the Downing street cat. ☺

[mushroom25]

//Just pray,should he win the leadership vote, he keeps his word. //

he's said it, and may well believe in it, and may even be prepared to keep his word. but he won't get the chance. Cooper and Letwin will legislate again...….

[Ellipsis]

A no deal Brexit is not what was promised prior to the referendum, not what the country voted for and is not what is wanted by the majority of the country at present. So to say it would be "democratic" is disingenuous.

Beyond that it would be damaging to the economy and damaging to law and order, both traditional core Tory values, so ultimately it would be damaging to the Tory party. Perhaps even fatal. If the Tories can't defend those values, what can they defend?

I would go for the candidate with the least hubris, which I would define as "prideful arrogance". Hard to say who that is though ...

[Jackdaw33]

In that case Rory Stewart's your man. Pity he blotted his copybook by ruling out No Deal.

[Ellipsis]

Maybe he's just being honest that destroying the economy and instigating civil unrest are not ideas that are congruent with Tory values.

[naomi24]

^That’s disingenuous. The country voted to leave the EU. Any deals we agree should relate solely to trade, security, etc., and not such that leave us fettered to EU regulation in any shape or form.

[youngmafbog]

"A no deal Brexit is not what was promised prior to the referendum, not what the country voted for and is not what is wanted by the majority of the country at present. So to say it would be "democratic" is disingenuous."

Good Lord. Guess you vote liberal or NoChange UK then.

And they call us Brexiterrs thick!

[youngmafbog]

Has to be Boris or Raab, anyone else and the Tory Party is finished, preferably Raab for me.

Gove is a backstabbing Remoaner rat, can't trust the toad at all.

[mushroom25]

//A no deal Brexit is not what was promised prior to the referendum, not what the country voted for....//

the following is copied verbatim from the European Union Referendum Act, 2015:-

"Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”

no mention of deal or no deal, or any other permutation that may have arisen since. the question required a simple binary answer - yes, or no, and that's what the country voted for. not maybe we'll leave if qualified by this or that, or only if this or that condition was met.

[douglas9401]

I tink somebody able to be a rat and a toad at the same time is worthy of consideration.

[youngmafbog]

Slimey too Douglas :-)

[aelmpvw]

it may be misleading but hunt has that 'tim nice but dim' expression on his face