Current Affairs

[Ray B]

It does come with the perks, good pension and personal security, partying at the office and free trips abroad.

[Mervyn and Trish]

None have the same ring as Boris Bashers. But who knows, optimistically we might be able to move on and I won't need them.

I trust that also applies to you and your Starmer sh1ttalking.

See definition of trolls above.

[Kendhni]

None have the same ring as Boris Bashers. But who knows, optimistically we might be able to move on and I won't need them.

I trust that also applies to you and your Starmer sh1ttalking.

See definition of trolls above.

In deference to OBFs new signature, I have no intention of arguing with you.

[Mervyn and Trish]

A pleasant change, thank you.

[towny44]

I know why you consider the current govt have moved to the right, but really, Brexit apart, Boris was always a centrist, which is why he was such a staunch advocate of the levelling up agenda.

As Lord Mayor, Johnson was much more centrist, but as a PM he has certainly moved significantly to the right. I don't think he himself is overly right wing but that is the direction he has taken the tory party. Groucho Marx once said 'these are my principles, and if you don't like them ... well I have others' ... that pretty much sums up Johnson (and Truss) they change direction with whatever they believe is good for themselves (not the party, not the country and not anybody else).

Not sure why you insist Johnson has taken his govt significantly to the right, unless you consider that not allowing tax allowances to increase in line with inflation, after pouring money into the furlough scheme as well as the testing operation, should be considered as draconian.

[Onelife]

I thought Penny Mordaunt gave a winning Tour De France performance tonight.

Liz Truss came in second because she didn’t need a sat nav to show where she wants to go.

There was a dead heat for third place with Kemi and Tom peddling but not really making up any ground.

I thought Sunak’s wheels fell off and will need a major rebuild if he is ever to get his feet on the podium.

What say you Mob?

[screwy]

I get the feeling that Kemi is a bit of a stirrer.?

[Kendhni]

Mordaunt didn't do as well tonight ... unless she and Badenoch get off the comparatively trivial topic of trans rights and onto much more important topics reflecting the wider population they will basically kill any hopes that they may have. Tugendhat and Sunak did OK but I am not seeing anyone really coming out ahead.

Truss tries to claim she delivers .. I would love to know what ... again talking the talk and failing to walk the walk.

[Onelife]

Mordaunt didn't do as well tonight ... unless she and Badenoch get off the comparatively trivial topic of trans rights and onto much more important topics reflecting the wider population they will basically kill any hopes that they may have. Tugendhat and Sunak did OK but I am not seeing anyone really coming out ahead.

Truss tries to claim she delivers .. I would love to know what ... again talking the talk and failing to walk the walk.

The only certainty after tonight’s debate is that the candidates have given the labour party enough ammunition to wipe the floor with them at the dispatch box.

[Kendhni]

I know why you consider the current govt have moved to the right, but really, Brexit apart, Boris was always a centrist, which is why he was such a staunch advocate of the levelling up agenda.

As Lord Mayor, Johnson was much more centrist, but as a PM he has certainly moved significantly to the right. I don't think he himself is overly right wing but that is the direction he has taken the tory party. Groucho Marx once said 'these are my principles, and if you don't like them ... well I have others' ... that pretty much sums up Johnson (and Truss) they change direction with whatever they believe is good for themselves (not the party, not the country and not anybody else).

Not sure why you insist Johnson has taken his govt significantly to the right, unless you consider that not allowing tax allowances to increase in line with inflation, after pouring money into the furlough scheme as well as the testing operation, should be considered as draconian.

BTW, not ignoring this, I am thinking about this one.

[Manoverboard]

I thought Penny Mordaunt gave a winning Tour De France performance tonight.

Liz Truss came in second because she didn’t need a sat nav to show where she wants to go.

There was a dead heat for third place with Kemi and Tom peddling but not really making up any ground.

I thought Sunak’s wheels fell off and will need a major rebuild if he is ever to get his feet on the podium.

What say you Mob?

I thought there were a few tough hills to climb ...

[CaroleF]

I got fed up with listening to Liz Truss telling me that she could deliver, and the things she'd delivered on. She did exactly the same in the last broadcast. Maybe she thinks if she says it often enough we'll believe it and vote for her, assuming she gets into the final two. I wouldn't like to say what the MPs will do in the vote later today. I hope they remember whoever they choose has to appeal to the non-Tory voter in the country in order to have any hope of winning a General Election. Somehow Boris managed to do that, whatever people on here may think of him. I don't know that Sunak is capable of doing that. He does tend to come across as a bit slick, highly intelligent but will he appeal to the Tory voters in the country, let alone all voters in a General Election. I think there's still a lot to play for but it'll be interesting to see which candidate gets knocked out later today.

[Stephen]

My guess is it'll come down to Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak with Sunak clinching it.

Is Onelife taking bets yet.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think you may be right in the MP vote. But talking to our local MP, who is is backing Tom, she says Rishi is unpopular with the membership who have the final say.

[screwy]

I’d love it to come down to Penny and Tom.
Going off Keme, starting to come across as a back stabber in my view.
Truss is starting to come across as ‘ I’m wonderful’

Who gets my vote.? That’s my business.

[towny44]

I think you may be right in the MP vote. But talking to our local MP, who is is backing Tom, she says Rishi is unpopular with the membership who have the final say.

That's a shame since he is the only one I think is capable of winning a general election.

[Ray B]

Now what are you all going to talk about as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have pulled out of the next TV debate. The show has now been canceled.

[Onelife]

I got fed up with listening to Liz Truss telling me that she could deliver, and the things she'd delivered on. She did exactly the same in the last broadcast. Maybe she thinks if she says it often enough we'll believe it and vote for her, assuming she gets into the final two. I wouldn't like to say what the MPs will do in the vote later today. I hope they remember whoever they choose has to appeal to the non-Tory voter in the country in order to have any hope of winning a General Election. Somehow Boris managed to do that, whatever people on here may think of him. I don't know that Sunak is capable of doing that. He does tend to come across as a bit slick, highly intelligent but will he appeal to the Tory voters in the country, let alone all voters in a General Election. I think there's still a lot to play for but it'll be interesting to see which candidate gets knocked out later today.

I think you are absolutely right about Sunak Carole, especially with regard to winning a GE. Whilst he might be right with his cautious approach to tax cuts, two years is a very short time for him to turn things around and if as predicted things get worse before they get better the electorate will more than likely blame him for lack of progress and look for an alternative come 2024.

[Onelife]

My guess is it'll come down to Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak with Sunak clinching it.

Is Onelife taking bets yet.

Hi Stephen, I’ve stopped taking bets because there are far too many insider dealings going on, especially with the nobbling of one of the runners…namely Penny Mordaunt. I’m starting to think Liz Truss could be in the final two and she would definitely be my choice over Sunak.

[Stephen]

Hi Stephen, I’ve stopped taking bets because there are far too many insider dealings going on, especially with the nobbling of one of the runners…namely Penny Mordaunt. I’m starting to think Liz Truss could be in the final two and she would definitely be my choice over Sunak.

I agree Keith

[barney]

So they have cancelled the next ‘debate’

Smart move.
They were in danger of falling into the media trap of publicly ripping each other apart.
Given that the public in general don’t have a vote, I’m surprised that they were persuaded to do it in the first place.

[oldbluefox]

So they have cancelled the next ‘debate’

Smart move.
They were in danger of falling into the media trap of publicly ripping each other apart.
Given that the public in general don’t have a vote, I’m surprised that they were persuaded to do it in the first place.

I agree and felt some of the questions asked encouraged them to slag each other off and were very personal. Personally I would have been more interested to know what they hoped to achieve and how they would achieve it rather than focussing on what had gone before and criticising it. Clearly there would be disagreement about Tory policy and practice in the past but this is where a new PM should be wiping the slate clean and taking the country in a different direction.
I found the question about whether any would employ Boris in their cabinet really quite tacky and pointless.

[Bensham33]

Seeing as there was nothing much on the box last night I thought I would watch the Tory leadership debate. Is that it? Is that all the Tory party can put forward? What a joke. When you think that whoever wins will become Prime Minister from day one of this wonderful country is that all we can put forward.

Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch and Liz Truss. I think the best they can do is to play bingo together. Two of the worse PM's this country have ever had the mis-fortune to endure have been women. We don't want another one, thank you very much.

Tom Tugenhat. An ex army officer. I thought he might be in with a chance. I thought, he's never been a minister of anything maybe Boris was keeping him outside the cabinet because he thought he was a threat. Got that one wrong. He's a Muppet.

Rishi Sunak. I suppose he's got promise. Not much pedigree but he was on the front line during covid. He likes a party and only a Tory could accept that there's a cost of living crises and then think I know let's put taxes up. When you consider that one thing Tories love is low taxes do they really need someone that enjoys putting taxes up.

All 5 are running scared of Sir Keir Starmer and Labour.
I reckon that if Labour could pick a winner then they would select Liz Truss. They could wipe the floor with her.

Is that all we've got, It should be against the law. No wonder none of them would call a General Election.

[Onelife]

They certainly won’t be wanting Penny Mordaunt going through after the demolition job she did on Angela Raynor and Ian Blackford…. Ouch!!!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Running scared of Sir Hindsight. Comedy gold.