Iain Duncan Smith Tipped To Become Interim Tory Leader As Sunak Eyes Quick Exit

[T00ts]

I.D.S. led the Tories from 2001 to 2003 from the opposition benches and like William Hague and Michael Howard never got to be PM.
He is now 70 years old, and although he has held high office, he is also the epitome of "has been".

Agreed. I felt he was pretty ineffectual then. 

[Barry]

I.D.S. led the Tories from 2001 to 2003 from the opposition benches and like William Hague and Michael Howard never got to be PM.
He is now 70 years old, and although he has held high office, he is also the epitome of "has been".

[T00ts]

The Conservatives are too busy licking their wounds to make any choices of leader. Sunak will bunk off asap now he no longer has the power to change the world and I feel sure there is a far more lucrative future awaiting him and he's never been one to sit around waiting for opportunities - he takes them by fair means or foul. 

They need a safe pair of hands to tide them over for a year or so capable of coping with Farage more than anything else since Labour have a clear run with whatever chaos they have in mind (or perhaps Blair has) then perhaps someone with some leadership qualities might evolve from the shadows. (Forgive the pun.)

[Borg Refinery]

The Tory Party became more toxic than that during the Blair years — and since getting into power by its fingernails in 2010  — as big hitters in various factions strove to mark their territories from their Hard Right verbal scent glands.

Election attrition and ship-jumping has seen off some. But the party needs to broaden its appeal, cut its links to hardship, and look for consensus...

That's just your opinion, best to look across at the Atlantic where hard-right shifts have won Trump and MAGA plenty. Not a fan of them but it's a working strategy.

In other countries, hard left shifts and lack of consensus have won parties elections too, so no, it doesn't always work as you wish it did. I'd certainly not want the likes of Diane Abbott in power or worse when it comes to verbal gibberish.

The Tory Party wasn't more toxic during the Blair years anyway, a lot of people really liked William Hague and respected him, again, your bias shines through. The Tory Party NOW is vastly more toxic and far-right than Hague's ever was - when Hague actually had a cabinet position in the Tory govt he wasn't that hard-right as I recall.

The Labour Party now is certainly right-wing (with a fusion of hard left wokeness to make things even worse) and more right-wing than Hague's Tories ever were, so all those accusations you level at others could be levelled at yourself. Many are bomb throwers and stokers with ignorant far-right opinions.

The Labour ThinkTank chief who helped win it for Starmer even endorsed the barges idea for migrants. QED.

[cromwell]

IDS as leader,good god might as well defrock Cameron the coward or whatever it is you do to stop him lording it over us and let him cock it all up again.

[patman post]

"gimmicks and controversy to stay relevant"

Sounds like the entire party ^

The Tory Party became more toxic than that during the Blair years — and since getting into power by its fingernails in 2010  — as big hitters in various factions strove to mark their territories from their Hard Right verbal scent glands.

Election attrition and ship-jumping has seen off some. But the party needs to broaden its appeal, cut its links to hardship, and look for consensus...

[Streetwalker]

"gimmicks and controversy to stay relevant"

Sounds like the entire party ^

True enough .The thing with Patel was that she was a let down ,after some early promise nothing materialised . It will though be down to the party who they promote ,she may be seen different within it than from us looking in .

[Borg Refinery]

About time as well , probably the only real non conservative conservative in the party .Its probably where the conservatives need to pitch themselves but they may find that room has been occupied by Reform which would be interesting .

She ticks all the boxes as far as Im concerned BUT when she had the gig of home secretary appeared all talk and no action and a little out of her depth,  relying on gimmicks and controversy to keep relevant .

Certainly shouldn't be ruled out though given the standard of possible opponents . As for IDS  ,good of him to stand in , looks like Sunak has got his bags packed and will be off to sunnier climes sooner rather than later .

"gimmicks and controversy to stay relevant"

Sounds like the entire party ^

[patman post]

Irritable Desensitised Syndrome may have become aware of his limitations — after his last attempt some years ago — at Tory Leader Proper, and could work as a stand-in while an all-round leader and politician is sought...

[papasmurf]

About time as well , probably the only real non conservative conservative in the party .

If it were in my power she would be being charged with multiple counts of manslaughter during her time as DWP minister as would IDS.

[Streetwalker]

That evil witch Priti Patel has thrown her hat in the ring as well.

About time as well , probably the only real non conservative conservative in the party .Its probably where the conservatives need to pitch themselves but they may find that room has been occupied by Reform which would be interesting .

She ticks all the boxes as far as Im concerned BUT when she had the gig of home secretary appeared all talk and no action and a little out of her depth,  relying on gimmicks and controversy to keep relevant . 

Certainly shouldn't be ruled out though given the standard of possible opponents . As for IDS  ,good of him to stand in , looks like Sunak has got his bags packed and will be off to sunnier climes sooner rather than later .

[Barry]

That evil witch Priti Patel has thrown her hat in the ring as well.

The ducking stool will soon sort her out, then.

Whoever is elected leader will probably just hang around as caretaker in opposition. I think Priti Patel and Suella would be better off on the Reformers bench (or half a bench)

[Borg Refinery]

Couldn't happen to a nicer party



She's just missing the pointy hat

[papasmurf]

That evil witch Priti Patel has thrown her hat in the ring as well.

[Borg Refinery]

Rishi Sunak is thought to be unwilling to stay on for a possible early Budget in September and wants to hand over the reigns sooner rather than later after spending time with family.



LBC understands Tory leadership hopefuls are preparing to formally launch their bids before the summer recess, with a contest to MPs and members through August.

And the Tory party board are expected to formalise the timetable this week.

However several Tories have said they believe the contest should go long until the end of the year to five the most time for reflection.


It follows a public spat between Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch, with colleagues noting they are "unnecessarily disrupting" Conservatives' chances of rebuilding the party.

Oliver Dowden, the former deputy PM, is understood to have ruled himself out as interim leader.

Iain Duncan Smith is being lined up instead to formally run the ship while a new person is chosen by both MPs and party members.

LBC

He fared terribly as Tory leader last time, even as interrim leader it won't go well. The Tories seem to want to commit self-sabotage at every turn as do their supporters

With this happening, and them thinking of choosing largely terrible potentials as permanent leader, expect them to go the way Hague did and remain out of power for a good 13 years or more