So who will accept the poisoned chalice?

I think the Tories should look at the reasons why their former supporters have left and pick an interim leader who is a team builder to try to keep the right under control whilst they plan how to rebuild - I know he’s not an MP, but Cameron may be the best short term option? The worst thing they could do would be to let the lunatics run the asylum, they need to keep Braverman and Patel on the sidelines.

maddyone

I don’t think anyone has said that all the ills of the country are down to one demographic.

Some people actually do believe this. That's why they vote Reform. This feeling has been growing over time and is worrying.

Rishi Sunak was handed a poisoned chalice, he himself wasn't one! The Conservatives seemed incapable of governing owing, amongst other things, their endless in fighting and disloyalty. Listening to Robert Jennerik I agree wholeheartedly with his interview. It says it all really.

Witzend

Aveline

He was a decent and serious young man. We were all glad of him during lockdown. I don't like to see him denigrated. There are far worse than him.

Ditto. I voted LD in a LD/Con seat (Labour come nowhere) but I do have sympathy for Rishi Sunak. Most of the shitshow that caused the Tory catastrophe was down to Boris and Truss.

I’m afraid I suspect that at least some of the slagging off of Sunak stems from racism.

Racism ???

Leading candidates are Badenoch, Braverman, Cleverley, and Patel, oh nearly forgot Hunt.

David49

Witzend

Aveline

He was a decent and serious young man. We were all glad of him during lockdown. I don't like to see him denigrated. There are far worse than him.

Ditto. I voted LD in a LD/Con seat (Labour come nowhere) but I do have sympathy for Rishi Sunak. Most of the shitshow that caused the Tory catastrophe was down to Boris and Truss.

I’m afraid I suspect that at least some of the slagging off of Sunak stems from racism.

Racism ???

Leading candidates are Badenoch, Braverman, Cleverley, and Patel, oh nearly forgot Hunt.

Oh how I wish we could all forget Hunt. He came within a whisker of losing his seat too. Some people have said that a leader needs charisma. Jeremy Hunt was absent the day this was given out.

There are no leading candidates yet surely? They are at this stage just those who have previously expressed an interest in the leadership who the media surmise may be interested again.

Many people who voted haven’t forgotten what happened during lockdown, the way certain politicians behaved whilst we did our best to not mix, not party, were kept away from loved ones in order to try to stop the spread of the disease, lost loved ones, etc. Meanwhile, some of them partied, mixed, travelled, lied. The shear hypocrisy of these people left a very bitter taste in the mouths of many decent people, who haven’t forgotten. This, I personally feel, has contributed hugely to the demise of the conservative government - people have had enough. Of course, Covid alone isn’t responsible - so many variables have come along to impact the economy, Brexit, wars, other countries political situations, to name just three more things.

Unfortunately for Mr Sunak, he took the helm of an already dysfunctional and untrusted party, the damage had been done.

Id let them worry about that, in due course, they need to reflect and decide what they want Conservatives to be. No rush, get rid of the bad wood in the pile, luckily you
have the government in power you wanted Molly, rejoice in that.
Anyone could be an improvement on Blair lying to take us into a war with so many young men were butchered.

Allsorts

Id let them worry about that, in due course, they need to reflect and decide what they want Conservatives to be. No rush, get rid of the bad wood in the pile, luckily you
have the government in power you wanted Molly, rejoice in that.
Anyone could be an improvement on Blair lying to take us into a war with so many young men were butchered.

They have to have a leader pdq though Allsorts, unless Sunak carries on - otherwise who will lead on challenging the government, as presumably it will be normal parliamentary business from next week? That’s why I wondered if Cameron would step in for the interim.

Allsorts

Id let them worry about that, in due course, they need to reflect and decide what they want Conservatives to be. No rush, get rid of the bad wood in the pile, luckily you
have the government in power you wanted Molly, rejoice in that.
Anyone could be an improvement on Blair lying to take us into a war with so many young men were butchered.

Yes, but I think some of us who are pleased at the Labour win also feel to a degree a tad of sympathy for Sunak.

I do, although others will disagree.

I think he gave a civilised speech during his resignation, took the blame like a gentleman (though I would lay much of it elsewhere), and gave a gracious welcome to Starmer and I, for one anyway, thought he added a touch of gravitas to a party that has been much lacking in that department.

Compared (IMO) to Boris Johnson's resignation speech, it was a masterclass in civility and manners. For all his failings, I believe he is a decent man.

... who, basically, had an impossible job.

Sadiq Khan will be the next Prime Minister its obvious.
God help all us car drivers then. We'll be ULEZed out of the market.

MaggsMcG

Sadiq Khan will be the next Prime Minister its obvious.
God help all us car drivers then. We'll be ULEZed out of the market.

Sadiq Khan will be the next Prime Minister its obvious.

Is it?

How so?

Can't have any more of that nasty clean air!

The tories are now completely divided, and I don’t think that they no longer know what they stand for.

Until they get their act together they remsin divided and it is difficult at the moment to see them coming together to form a credible opposition.

RosiesMaw

Germanshepherdsmum

There were a lot of votes in favour of Reform. So long as immigration is a problem they will I believe stay the course.

A political philosophy predicated on a negative policy, directed against a minority of the population is all too familiar to those who recognise or have studied National Socialism in Germany in the 20's and 30's.

I won't write on here my full opinion of those who vote Reform, but I will say that economic illiteracy is an essential.

The Tory members out in the constituencies will have a large influence choosing leader, they are known to be pretty right wing. So a caretaker leader then an election after the summer holidays seems likely.

Sunak has gone, I would not expect him to contest another election - why would he, might even resign sooner, leave the UK and pay taxes elsewhere.

I heard a Tory who had lost his seat earlier (I think it was Robert Buckland) saying he questioned the wisdom of allowing the constituencies to be involved in choosing the leader because they didn’t know the candidates well enough to know who had the right personal qualities to lead, and as you say, are more right wing, which results in poor choices.

I think the Tory party should heed Robert Buckland's words and treat them with consideration and seriousness.

I thought it was a great speech and if the Tory party don't note what he said they are surely doomed.

I’m not bothered about the economic literacy of those who voted for Reform HPQ as I am not one of them nor do I know any of them. However, Farage will I think be very useful in keeping uncontrolled immigration at the forefront of the issues faced by Labour. It’s not something to be swept under the carpet while they deal with more palatable issues.

keepingquiet

I think the Tory party should heed Robert Buckland's words and treat them with consideration and seriousness.

I thought it was a great speech and if the Tory party don't note what he said they are surely doomed.

I agree.

The problem with both parties is that the leaders are chosen by the party members and these tend to forget that when it comes to elections it is the broader electorate, who do not belong to any party who decide who gets into power or not.

Unfortunately the party members choice and what would be the electorate choice, do not necessarily coincide. The party choosing Jeremy Corbyn, on one side, and Liz Truss on the other, are classic examples of this.

Casdon

I heard a Tory who had lost his seat earlier (I think it was Robert Buckland) saying he questioned the wisdom of allowing the constituencies to be involved in choosing the leader because they didn’t know the candidates well enough to know who had the right personal qualities to lead, and as you say, are more right wing, which results in poor choices.

Rory Stewart says the same. I’m ashamed to say that I can’t place who Robert Buckland is but it sounds like it is unfortunate that he will no longer be in the party. I wonder if Tugendhat will stand again?

The members are important to any political party provide campaigners and of course donations, so they want a say in who is leader. The Tories I know are really quite hard line and still think Johnson should not have been removed, they will support similar candidates that were in the last leadership election, less Mordaunt of course.

To have any chance they need to win back the voters that Reform won, so I really don’t see a moderate leader being chosen.

Yes, Sunak got the poisoned chalice. I felt he was a beacon of decency amongst a rabble of squabbling unprincipled egotists and with Hunt got us out of a catastrophic situation after Truss (and WHY did people think she would be any good??). They have steered a steady course through the shambles the world is in at the moment and get chucked out for it. The Tories have no credibility at all for me. No sooner do they vote a leader in than they are plotting to oust them again. It's worse than football management!
I'm not sure Starmer will last long either, with the loony left still lurking in the sidelines. He couldn't control Diane Abbott and that says it all for me.
Let's see.

I thought Sunak grabbed the chalice with both hands, very eagerly.

He wasn't capable of being leader of a political party but clearly thought he was.

No clue who should lead them now. Those being mentioned in the press would surely be the kiss of death.