7 8 shut the gate!

[Borchester]

A few - a precious few - right across the political spectrum want to be politicians for good reasons, to make things better for the country and it's people. Sadly they are swamped by large numbers of wannabes on the make, in it for themselves or to serve the interests of the often narrow social strata most of the people they know come from. Literally there to serve the few at the expense of the many - and to serve themselves and their mates. Politicians of genuine principle who say what they think and think what they say, and whose loyalty to principles is greater than to party are regarded with the utmost suspicion. If their principles lead them into anti-establishmentarian directions, they are regarded as enemies of the state by the wealthy elites who run everything, including the hordes of establishmentarians in their own parties.

That is right.

The only thing you left out was that it is usually the arseholes that get things done while the Great and Good end up with a nail in each hand and buggering up the family's Easter.

[srb7677]

The thing is that we are all right.

If we married a Hindu princess or prince, we would buy a country place or a town house with a pub or brewery attached and make a fuss of the wife or husband and children. We would not waste our time being PM. We would concentrate on going pleasantly to pieces.

And that is the problem. Left, right or centre, you have to be a bit bloody odd to want to be a politician.

A few - a precious few - right across the political spectrum want to be politicians for good reasons, to make things better for the country and it's people. Sadly they are swamped by large numbers of wannabes on the make, in it for themselves or to serve the interests of the often narrow social strata most of the people they know come from. Literally there to serve the few at the expense of the many - and to serve themselves and their mates. Politicians of genuine principle who say what they think and think what they say, and whose loyalty to principles is greater than to party are regarded with the utmost suspicion. If their principles lead them into anti-establishmentarian directions, they are regarded as enemies of the state by the wealthy elites who run everything, including the hordes of establishmentarians in their own parties.

[Borchester]

The thing is that we are all right.

If we married a Hindu princess or prince, we would buy a country place or a town house with a pub or brewery attached and make a fuss of the wife or husband and children. We would not waste our time being PM. We would concentrate on going pleasantly to pieces.

And that is the problem. Left, right or centre, you have to be a bit bloody odd to want to be a politician.

[Borchester]

What worries me most about the whole Conservative debacle is how the MPs who have instigated all this are so far removed from both the electorate and the party members. Sunak - a chancer - is exactly how I view him and I am convinced that if he fails here he will leave politics. I just can't believe that he cares more about the country than his rise to power.

True

[Borchester]

He is all over the place with this . Not long ago he was saying its a tax cut he opposed as it only helps the rich ,that we must all pay to help reduce the national debt . And not a mention of Northern Ireland  who are stuck with EU levels of VAT .

He is a chancer who has changed tack in the middle of the race as his policy's are taken apart . He stands now on taxes where Johnson wanted him to stand .

Truss for better or worse has stuck to her guns . I think she will walk it .

True

[Borchester]

Not sure where to put this so I'll try here ...

https://www.gbnews.uk/gb-views/rishi-sunaks-tax-u-turn-is-transparent-too-little-and-too-late-says-dan-wootton/344662

Oh dear. "Dishy" has become "Fishy" and several are saying the tax cuts he is now U turning over because he appears to be as popular as a dose of the clap are the very same ones he fought tooth and nail to block when others - including Boris - begged they be implemented.

True

[T00ts]

He is all over the place with this . Not long ago he was saying its a tax cut he opposed as it only helps the rich ,that we must all pay to help reduce the national debt . And not a mention of Northern Ireland  who are stuck with EU levels of VAT .

He is a chancer who has changed tack in the middle of the race as his policy's are taken apart . He stands now on taxes where Johnson wanted him to stand .

Truss for better or worse has stuck to her guns . I think she will walk it .

What worries me most about the whole Conservative debacle is how the MPs who have instigated all this are so far removed from both the electorate and the party members. Sunak - a chancer - is exactly how I view him and I am convinced that if he fails here he will leave politics. I just can't believe that he cares more about the country than his rise to power.

[Streetwalker]

Not sure where to put this so I'll try here ...

https://www.gbnews.uk/gb-views/rishi-sunaks-tax-u-turn-is-transparent-too-little-and-too-late-says-dan-wootton/344662

Oh dear. "Dishy" has become "Fishy" and several are saying the tax cuts he is now U turning over because he appears to be as popular as a dose of the clap are the very same ones he fought tooth and nail to block when others - including Boris - begged they be implemented.

He is all over the place with this . Not long ago he was saying its a tax cut he opposed as it only helps the rich ,that we must all pay to help reduce the national debt . And not a mention of Northern Ireland  who are stuck with EU levels of VAT .

He is a chancer who has changed tack in the middle of the race as his policy's are taken apart . He stands now on taxes where Johnson wanted him to stand . 

 Truss for better or worse has stuck to her guns . I think she will walk it . 

[johnofgwent]

Not sure where to put this so I'll try here ...

https://www.gbnews.uk/gb-views/rishi-sunaks-tax-u-turn-is-transparent-too-little-and-too-late-says-dan-wootton/344662

Oh dear. "Dishy" has become "Fishy" and several are saying the tax cuts he is now U turning over because he appears to be as popular as a dose of the clap are the very same ones he fought tooth and nail to block when others - including Boris - begged they be implemented.

[Barry]

357 votes cast - two spoilt ballots:

Penny Mordaunt: 105

Rishi Sunak: 137

Liz Truss: 113


Two spoilt ballots? The mind boggles.
Looks like we are in for the 3rd lady PM. My daughter won't be at all pleased, but she's a part of the Blob, and they seem to want Rishi, which is worrying.

[srb7677]

Sadly, he didn't.

It is Truss and the Anus

Why Rees Mogg did not stand is beyond me

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-62232038

A predictably depressing result.


And chances are Rees Mogg better understood than you do that he would have stood no chance. In the massively unlikely event that he became leader, the Tories would have been doomed at the next election.

[srb7677]

My preferred contest from the dross that's on offer is Mordaunt and Truss.Purely for the reason that Sunak should have his comeuppance this afternoon.

Polling does tend to suggest that Sunak is much less popular amongst the Tory membership than he is with the wider public, and you appear to be reflecting that.

I don't really like or trust him either, but then as a socialist, struggling to trust Tories is my default setting, .

I do think Mordaunt could more credibly offer a clean break. And I have not been given too many reasons to dislike her yet.

[Borchester]

My preferred contest from the dross that's on offer is Mordaunt and Truss.Purely for the reason that Sunak should have his comeuppance this afternoon.

Sadly, he didn't.

It is Truss and the Anus

Why Rees Mogg did not stand is beyond me

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-62232038

[T00ts]

My preferred contest from the dross that's on offer is Mordaunt and Truss.Purely for the reason that Sunak should have his comeuppance this afternoon.

[srb7677]

And there was me thinking this thread was about the Tory leadership contest.

Next result at 4pm. Good bye Penny?

With 20 minutes to go I suspect we will end up with Sunak versus Truss, but I'd rather see Sunak versus Mordaunt and Truss out of the running.

There is the serious danger of the Tories shooting themselves in the foot. The MPs could cut Mordaunt out of the loop. And the members may well choose the right wing Truss over Sunak, in the full knowledge that she is not hugely popular with the wider electorate. And in doing so make the classic mistake of elevating what they most want over what the wider electorate is most likely to want. And this could cost them.

But we shall see.