Current Affairs

[Kendhni]

Grant Shapp has just pulled out of the race and is now supporting Sunak…. the way this is going we’ll end up with the same old cabinet minus Boris

That was always a risk, but I don't really see why any new leader would want to take such a retrograde step.

[Manoverboard]

The question that arises ... could Boris stand ?

[Kendhni]

The question that arises ... could Boris stand ?

Not at the Christmas do he couldn't ... allegedly!

[Gill W]

PS I see Rees-Mogg is threatening to throw his hat in ... I think it is misdirection and what he is actually after is a peerage.

He's standing against Disraeli !

I agree with the para above but ... being ' Sexually incontinent ' surely implies that the poor old boy cannot raise his poor old boy which in turn would make a nonsense of any alleged advances towards the junior staff .... yes / no ?

No

One of the definitions of incontinent is 'lacking self restraint, uncontrolled' (per Google search)

That fits perfectly with someone who can't keep it in his trousers.

[Gill W]

Interesting interview with him yesterday when he was visiting the north east. He was asked about his policy on the economy, the cost of living crisis and how it would all be paid for. Boris was accused of waffling on but this character was his equal, talk about ducking and diving. The truth of the matter is they do not have a policy above 'We will sort the economy out '.

They don't really need a policy right now, as there is no General Election in the offing (although that could change). If he's still ducking and weaving when he needs to be concise, I definitely wouldn't be happy about that.

What I'm most interested in is, when the field has been reduced to bonafide candidates, is what plans the Conservative prospective leaders have, in some detail, not just the vacuous 'I will deliver for the British people'. I would be looking for answers on a range of topics such as cost of living crisis, energy prices, NHS backlogs, covid pandemic (short, medium and long term), Ukraine, climate change.

I will also be looking at how they answer - will they be able to give a straight answer, or will they revert to answering a completely different question, or even worse, start barking 'vaccine roll out' every time a question is asked.

Plus there's the intangibles - are they (relatively) trustworthy?

I realise that there's nothing I can do to influence the outcome of this election, but I would like to be able to state my preferred candidate. I don't mind going out on a limb - hopefully everyone else will join in, just for a bit of fun

[oldbluefox]

Having been asked a straight question about his policy on the economy and levelling up that signalled to me here is the opportunity to state my case and swing the voters my way. The man was totally uninspiring, hadn't a clue outside his brief and became very confused when directed towards the detail of his policy. Levelling up under Labour? No chance.
I've already stated my preference for the Tory party leadership but fear others will be preferred. Never mind.

[towny44]

I know the media love to quote a govts manifesto, and repeatedly ask ministers to justify current actions against the manifesto's policies. However as circumstances change, so should previous policies, if necessary, so I am not overly concerned about election promises, but I do want my PM to show willing to change tack, when its needed.

[barney]

Interesting interview with him yesterday when he was visiting the north east. He was asked about his policy on the economy, the cost of living crisis and how it would all be paid for. Boris was accused of waffling on but this character was his equal, talk about ducking and diving. The truth of the matter is they do not have a policy above 'We will sort the economy out '.

They don't really need a policy right now, as there is no General Election in the offing (although that could change). If he's still ducking and weaving when he needs to be concise, I definitely wouldn't be happy about that.

What I'm most interested in is, when the field has been reduced to bonafide candidates, is what plans the Conservative prospective leaders have, in some detail, not just the vacuous 'I will deliver for the British people'. I would be looking for answers on a range of topics such as cost of living crisis, energy prices, NHS backlogs, covid pandemic (short, medium and long term), Ukraine, climate change.

I will also be looking at how they answer - will they be able to give a straight answer, or will they revert to answering a completely different question, or even worse, start barking 'vaccine roll out' every time a question is asked.

Plus there's the intangibles - are they (relatively) trustworthy?

I realise that there's nothing I can do to influence the outcome of this election, but I would like to be able to state my preferred candidate. I don't mind going out on a limb - hopefully everyone else will join in, just for a bit of fun

Looks like you may be coming over to the dark side Gill
You know it makes sense.
It’s usually the left eating itself so it’s pretty good to watch the Tories doing it for a change.

[Kendhni]

I realise that there's nothing I can do to influence the outcome of this election, but I would like to be able to state my preferred candidate. I don't mind going out on a limb - hopefully everyone else will join in, just for a bit of fun

I suspect that nobody would have an issue with that ... I have a top 3 in my mind and a very definite bottom 3, but I am waiting to hear more about policy direction on a number of issues before casting my virtual vote. Looking at previous voting patterns for the candidates I don't think that any would fully deliver what I would like, so the devil will be in the detail (as you say).

[Kendhni]

PS I see Rees-Mogg is threatening to throw his hat in ... I think it is misdirection and what he is actually after is a peerage.

He's standing against Disraeli !

Definitely of the same era

[Manoverboard]

The question that arises ... could Boris stand ?

Not at the Christmas do he couldn't ... allegedly!

As someone in the middle of a bout of Covid I would gladly buy Boris a beer or two. He was directly responsible for securing my four jabs in a timely manner and by definition therefore for possibly saving my life.

[Kendhni]

The question that arises ... could Boris stand ?

Not at the Christmas do he couldn't ... allegedly!

As someone in the middle of a bout of Covid I would gladly buy Boris a beer or two. He was directly responsible for securing my four jabs in a timely manner and by definition therefore for possibly saving my life.

He might not be able to stand again
GBS

[Manoverboard]

I agree with the para above but ... being ' Sexually incontinent ' surely implies that the poor old boy cannot raise his poor old boy which in turn would make a nonsense of any alleged advances towards the junior staff .... yes / no ?

No

One of the definitions of incontinent is 'lacking self restraint, uncontrolled' (per Google search)

That fits perfectly with someone who can't keep it in his trousers.

Your Doctor, rather than Mr Google would disagree. Being incontinent in that context is having no control which in turn means he would have fired all his bullets before he even reached the target area. That for sure is not a Boris type problem.

[Manoverboard]

It’s usually the left eating itself so it’s pretty good to watch the Tories doing it for a change.

Do you think that is what they are really doing.

There is also the possiblity that the whole thing is being stage managed based on the knowledge that they all knew that Boris's exit day was an inevitable event, just the timing to sort out.

[Onelife]

I would like to think the remaining two candidates have a broad idea of which direction the ship needs to go but any suggestion that they should spell out their policies ‘in detail’ before having had chance to appoint, consultant, evaluate with their newly appointed ministers is quite frankly ridiculous…. if, however it is Gill or Ken who are advocating this then I want you all to know I’m right behind them... squeak! squeak!

[barney]

It’s usually the left eating itself so it’s pretty good to watch the Tories doing it for a change.

Do you think that is what they are really doing.

There is also the possiblity that the whole thing is being stage managed based on the knowledge that they all knew that Boris's exit day was an inevitable event, just the timing to sort out.

It was definitely inevitable Moby.
I said that the week after he was elected

[Kendhni]

I would like to think the remaining two candidates have a broad idea of which direction the ship needs to go but any suggestion that they should spell out their policies ‘in detail’ before having had chance to appoint, consultant, evaluate with their newly appointed ministers is quite frankly ridiculous…. if, however it is Gill or Ken who are advocating this then I want you all to know I’m right behind them... squeak! squeak!

We may be talking about two different levels 'of detail'. For example, I think that if a candidate is advocating a tax cut, as most are, or additional funding for some project, then I think it is fair to expect them to also be clear on where they expect any money to come from. I agree that it would be ridiculous to expect a detailed policy at this point of time ... but allowing any candidate to simply make things up would show that the tory party have learned nothing about why they are in the mess they are in.


I see Javid has pulled out ... I didn't have him down as a front runner, but he grew on me after his resignation speech in the HoC ... it was a gem as he stated a few inconvenient truths about how the government was actually being run.

[Onelife]

I don’t think those who place their crosses on the ballot paper are taken in by the promise of tax cuts on the scale that some candidates are proposing, as you say, very few will give fiscally sound responses when asked where the money is coming from...this I believe brings into question the character of the candidate and begs the question how responsible they would be with future policy decisions.

Whilst Penny Mordaunt has pledged a 50p vat cut on fuel, this to my knowledge is the only cut she is proposing and will be welcomed by business and motorists alike. It will certainly be a vote winner if she comes up with a credible sugar daddy to pay for it.

You can’t help but warm to Javid as he appears to wear his heart on his sleeve in wanting the best for our country.

[Kendhni]

Like many, I have been reading various articles on what the PM candidates stance is on many topics. While tax and climate seem to be prevalent the other one that seems to be common among many of the articles is their position in relationship to 'woke' and 'trans rights' ... seriously, is that really the most important thing the media has researched? Where are comments in relation to important issues like jobs, wider economy, wider human rights, infrastructure, health, business, immigration etc. (which barely get a mention).

Maybe, at this early stage, the candidates are trying to avoid important areas that could cause controversy.

[Manoverboard]

It was definitely inevitable Moby.
I said that the week after he was elected

You did indeed, I remember it very clearly

[Stephen]

Dangling the tax cut carrot is all very well but the money to pay for everything has to come from somewhere.

What is given in one hand you can guarantee will be taken with the other, and some.

[Onelife]

Like many, I have been reading various articles on what the PM candidates stance is on many topics. While tax and climate seem to be prevalent the other one that seems to be common among many of the articles is their position in relationship to 'woke' and 'trans rights' ... seriously, is that really the most important thing the media has researched? Where are comments in relation to important issues like jobs, wider economy, wider human rights, infrastructure, health, business, immigration etc. (which barely get a mention).

Maybe, at this early stage, the candidates are trying to avoid important areas that could cause controversy.

Yesterday I was looking at a poll which asked what issues were of concern to conservative party members, only 3% of the 2,000 polled gave ‘woke’ as an issue, this is good news for Penny Mordaunt considering her views on trans and immigration.

[Onelife]

Dangling the tax cut carrot is all very well but the money to pay for everything has to come from somewhere.

What is given in one hand you can guarantee will be taken with the other, and some.

…or just add a bit more to the 82 billion in interest we pay each year on Government borrowing.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Dangling the tax cut carrot is all very well but the money to pay for everything has to come from somewhere.

What is given in one hand you can guarantee will be taken with the other, and some.

It's ironic to see Labour bleating about "unfunded fantasy economics".

Presumably Rachel Reeves never saw Comrade Corbyn's manifesto.

[oldbluefox]

Could we not use our gold reserves to plug the gap.