Current Affairs

[Gill W]

That's rather rich coming from you Gill, who rarely posts anything anywhere on the forum unless it's derogatory against Boris.

I don't use the forum that often as it is very slow on all my devices, and because it is often not a pleasant experience.

When I post about Johnson, I tend to stick to what's happening in the news, and tend not to give personal opinions about what I think about him. I don't introduce him into my every post, for no apparent reason.

[Gill W]

You appear to know in detail what happened and what didn't. Excellent. No point in the police investigating then. Nothing to see here. Though oddly, despite you knowing otherwise, Labour have admitted they initially denied she was there. Hmm.

At least I bothered to make the effort to look a bit closer at what was being said. I can only go on what I saw at the time - and there was nothing at all being said about Angela Rayner. I've been doing some searching, and I still can't find anything from earlier reporting saying that she was there at the Durham break for refreshment.

I have seen the current press reports saying that 'Labour now 'admit she was there', but I can't actually see anything from Labour themselves saying this.

However, even if she was there, what the press reports indicate is an error that is now corrected.

What Labour haven't done is mislead the house of commons over it, or say there's got to be an enquiry and nothing can be said until after the enquiry is over

[oldbluefox]

That's right Ken. You did give your opinion and it was very significant.
Now go and play nicely.

Harmony is key ... right

I'm following Barney's advice. Wise words indeed from him.

[Onelife]

As the conversation has now got going, I would say Tom Tugendhat, as (at the moment at least) he appears untainted by the current government circus

Hi Gill…not a name that automatically springs to mind but I have just been reading up about him and I can see where you are coming from. Whilst he lacks ministerial experience, he has a wealth of experience in other top-level positions. Further to this he appears to be a man of integrity, and one who isn’t afraid to stand up for what he believes to be true.
The conservative party needs fresh blood and he appears to be the kind of person to give the party the infusion of integrity needed.

[oldbluefox]

Boris is no clown but there are times when he is his own worst enemy. He relies on a good team around him but if he did decide to step down, which I doubt any time soon there are one or two who could be in the running.
Michael Gove is an obvious choice but not particularly popular with some back benchers.
Nadhim Zahawi always comes across as very calm and measured and is not one to be flustered.
Ben Wallace, ex military and it shows in his no nonsense approach.
Liz Truss would be in the mix. Somehow I feel she lacks personality but she is perfectly capable of doing the job and responds well under pressure.
Not one I could see in the running but I do like Penny Mordaunt if only for the way she savaged Angela Rayner and Ian Blackford in the Commons. You don't tangle with Penny.
Of course there are others including, as has already been said, Tom Tugendhat.

[Onelife]

Hi Foxy, apart from Nadhim Zahawi who strikes me as a chap who would smile to your face then stab you in the back, I could go along with any of them but I can see Truss, Gove plus Jeremy Hunt left to fight out the finish.

Whilst it may be said that any future PM needs a likable personality, I’m hoping the electorate is starting to see past this façade and look for a time served experienced bore with a proven pedigree.

If Lisa Nandy were to take over the reins she could be a major vote winner for her party.

[oldbluefox]

Please not Jeremy Hunt who was a disaster at the Department of Health. Just a total wet.

The Labour Party missed a trick by not electing Lisa Nandy to party leader. She would have presented a more credible opposition. My problem with the Labour Party is the power the unions and the far left exert over the more moderate elements.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Jeremy Hunt never! Disaster.

[oldbluefox]

Only a Theresa May admirer would dream of thinking Jeremy Hunt would make a good PM.

[Kendhni]

As the conversation has now got going, I would say Tom Tugendhat, as (at the moment at least) he appears untainted by the current government circus

I have never actually heard of him, but anything that brings some new thinking to the Tory's is a good thing. A quick read says he has served his country, so is not a career politician, and his politics are centerist ... I generally believe whichever main party holds the centre ground stands the best chance. At the minute the Torys are far too right wing and Labour is still sitting too far to the left ... so neither is currently fighting for that middle ground.

Michael Gove stands head and shoulders above any of the other circus performers and would have made a fantastic PM in my opinion.

Sorry Keith, but I believe Gove, like Javid, has been involved in too much cronyism, and therefore carries too much baggage. In fact at times I think he is as much part of the circus as the clown PM.

That leaves the like of Hunt, Raab, Frost and Truss who talk-the-talk but continually prove they cannot walk-the-walk are just serial under achievers ... not forgetting Patel who has shown she is not even fit for her current job (but I don't think she has ever been a serious contender).

However Truss has a habit of getting what she wants and has been distancing herself from Johnson lately .. or what about Ben Wallace seems to be gathering support (but probably still an outsider). So, while I think Sunak has let himself down recently, based on the current competition, I believe he is still the front runner (but currently out of favour with the Tory grandee)

[towny44]

I cannot see any of those mentioned so far, having the charisma to get the electorate to vote for them in a GE like Boris did in 2019, and I believe he could do it again.

[oldbluefox]

I think that is the dilemma the Tories have at the moment and why there has been no concerted push to unseat him.
Many people are now so sick of hearing Partygate that it is becoming inconsequential.

[Kendhni]

I cannot see any of those mentioned so far, having the charisma to get the electorate to vote for them in a GE like Boris did in 2019, and I believe he could do it again.

That is a big problem (for all parties). What many people see is the likeable bumbling buffoonery of the HIGNFY Boris ... that however did not translate well into a statesman and political leader.

The cabinet is stuffed full of privately educated, millionaire, yes-men that are totally out of touch with the reality of those they are meant to represent. Worse still is that they have shown they have absolutely no ideas on how to resolve the current economic mess ... if it were a private company the CEO and board of directors would have been fired long ago.

What this country needs is a true leader and someone that takes control of the country and manages the spiralling debt that is being run up ... I don't know who that person is, but it is not Johnson. One common pattern from politicians (Tory's, in particular) is that they do not like to put their head above the parapet until they know which way the wind is blowing ... they let (or arrange for) someone else to make the first move, and then see the reaction before declaring their hand ... that is politics ... it is dishonest, it is disingenuous, it is back stabbing ... all of which play to Johnson's strengths.

So while I agree he has the charisma and ability to fool, that can win elections, the problem is he then has little to back it up ... that is not what this country needs at this point.

[Onelife]

Michael Gove stands head and shoulders above any of the other circus performers and would have made a fantastic PM in my opinion.

Sorry Keith, but I believe Gove, like Javid, has been involved in too much cronyism, and therefore carries too much baggage. In fact at times I think he is as much part of the circus as the clown PM.

Hi Ken…I would agree with your view that there are some clowns in the Westminster circus but in my opinion Gove isn’t one of them, far from it in fact. His roles as Enviromental secetary saw considerable changes in tackling pollution, plastic waste, animal welfare etc.
He has been instrumental in getting something done about the cladding fiasco.
He was starting to make his mark with prison reform before being reshuffled to do the jobs that Boris would have been unable to do.
Gove to my mind is a man who has a clear vision of where our country should be heading and given the chance would take us there.

[Mervyn and Trish]

OL, you've clearly forgotten Gove is a proven backstabbers.

Ken, you've clearly forgotten that the leaders of both Labour and the Lib Dems are Oxbridge educated knights of the realm, the former considerably wealthy. But no more men of the people than those you deride.

[Kendhni]

Michael Gove stands head and shoulders above any of the other circus performers and would have made a fantastic PM in my opinion.

Sorry Keith, but I believe Gove, like Javid, has been involved in too much cronyism, and therefore carries too much baggage. In fact at times I think he is as much part of the circus as the clown PM.

Hi Ken…I would agree with your view that there are some clowns in the Westminster circus but in my opinion Gove isn’t one of them, far from it in fact. His roles as Enviromental secetary saw considerable changes in tackling pollution, plastic waste, animal welfare etc.
He has been instrumental in getting something done about the cladding fiasco.
He was starting to make his mark with prison reform before being reshuffled to do the jobs that Boris would have been unable to do.
Gove to my mind is a man who has a clear vision of where our country should be heading and given the chance would take us there.

I would just be concerned that he comes with a bit of baggage that would raised at media convenient times ... but you could be right he does have a lot of feathers in his cap.

[Kendhni]

Ken, you've clearly forgotten that the leaders of both Labour and the Lib Dems are Oxbridge educated knights of the realm, the former considerably wealthy. But no more men of the people than those you deride.

Nope, I hadn't forgotten, but the question was "And who do you suggest should replace [Johnson]?". Since replacing a PM does not require a general election then the only candidates for replacement would be from within the Tory party itself ... so logically those were the only ones I considered.

[Ray B]

I think that is the dilemma the Tories have at the moment and why there has been no concerted push to unseat him.
Many people are now so sick of hearing Partygate that it is becoming inconsequential.

Only because it is good news, like manner from heaven, for the press.

Who will be next PM? A good chance it will be Boris, as he can talk and makes himself sound convincing.

[Onelife]

OL, you've clearly forgotten Gove is a proven backstabbers.

In politics they are all backstabbers it just depends on how hard some are prepared to shove it.

[Mervyn and Trish]

OL, you've clearly forgotten Gove is a proven backstabbers.



In politics they are all backstabbers it just depends on how hard some are prepared to shove it.

Including St Theresa?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Ken, you've clearly forgotten that the leaders of both Labour and the Lib Dems are Oxbridge educated knights of the realm, the former considerably wealthy. But no more men of the people than those you deride.

Nope, I hadn't forgotten, but the question was "And who do you suggest should replace [Johnson]?". Since replacing a PM does not require a general election then the only candidates for replacement would be from within the Tory party itself ... so logically those were the only ones I considered.

I had assumed it was an open question with the possibility of the next PM not being a Tory.

[Kendhni]

That would be a different, but good, question and could give some interesting feedback. Would that be assuming it is definitely not a Tory government or a comparative between Tory and other parties?

[Mervyn and Trish]

It would assume nothing. There are plenty who criticise Boris but are very elusive on the alternative. It would be interesting.

[Onelife]

OL, you've clearly forgotten Gove is a proven backstabbers.



In politics they are all backstabbers it just depends on how hard some are prepared to shove it.

Including St Theresa?

Whilst Theresa stands head and shoulders above most in the integrity department, however, by definition those who wish to remove a sitting PM will all play their part in the backstabbing process, even if, in her case, it would only be to pass the knife that does the deed.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Eussia has denied it plans to formally declare war in Ukraine.

This would be the same Russia that repeatedly denied it planned to invade Ukraine.