Tory Leadership race

Matt Hancock who pulled out the other day has now said he is backing Boris.

I do wonder why this race for the leader of a political party is gettiing so much air time. It doesn't really matter what any of us think or which one we would like, in the end 160,000 members of the Tory party will decide. So why on earth are they being paraded in front of us? It's a bit like showing your kids a row of Easter eggs and pretending they'll get to choose one when you know their aunty has brought them one already.

Well It makes me smile rather wryly when Labour/Lib Dem/Guardian readers (I read it daily but have a different viewpoint) praise Rory Stewart as the best candidate as new Conservative leader!

If you asked Tory/Brexit Party/DM readers who the best person for the next Labour leader would be, they would probably say that nice Kate Hoey seems to have some sensible ideas!

Which is why it is right that only party members vote for their new leader - even in a scenario when that leader will also, by default, be the next PM.

After all, if the new PM cannot then command the confidence of a majority in the House of Commons, the rest of the electorate will soon get a say in any case.

Precisely Trisher. Or it's like an episode of The Apprentice with the applicants being asked repeatedly for their business plan and them saying well if you don't invest in me, I'm going to shut down your businesses and take your money anyway. Like the millionaires, we should just say 'We're out.' and move the lectern into No 10, as it spoke volumes.

Why are those would-be leaders who've pulled out apparently coming out in support of Boris?

Oh, I get it now. they're looking for preferment in the next cabinet.

Talk about putting careers first...

If anyone seriously thinks that Boris Johnson could ever be a suitable person to be our Prime Minister, they should watch this bicycle crash of an interview with Eddie Mair from 2013. By the interview's close, "You're a nasty piece of work, aren't you?" was one of Mair's more generous reflections on Johnson's integrity.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/mar/24/boris-johnson-interview-eddie-mair

It seems to be a general opinion that Johnson is extremely unpleasant at times. Well some of his remarks certainly point to that.

Urmstonegran I'm not saying it isn't right that Tory members should elect their own leader just questioning why the rest of us are being subjected to all the hype and propaganda. Can you think of another programme on TV where the audience able to participate number only 160,000 (and that's being generous). It just wouldn't happen.

Channel 4 must’ve thought it would get ratings. And there is always the ‘off’ button!

I watched most of it but it wasn’t a good debate. It was stilted and some of the answers were a bit cringey! “I would be your man because ....” blah de blah.

From a letter to The Herald

" As far as I know Mr Johnson has never even visited Scotland, and knows nothing at all (and cares even less) about our separate history, culture and political systems. I don’t recall the subject coming up at all in the many interviews, programmes and discussions about his political views and aspirations. He is and always has been totally London-based and London-centred, and has never talked about or shown any interest in the rest of England, let alone the other nations and regions of the United Kingdom .

Don't worry, you can always claim Mr Trump, Granny23

Much the same as I posted yesterday at 19.17 granny23.
Despite a few protestations on this thread, I am finding that more and more friends and acquaintances are now supporting independence.
These are folk who are not dyed-in-the-wool nationalists, not politically active, not all that interested in politics.
They are however disgusted at the contemptuous way our MPs have been treated, at the disrespect shown to Scotland and at the prospect of Johnson as PM.
I sense a very significant shift of opinion.

That’s interesting mcem because I’m finding the precise opposite and some of these were dyed in the wool nationalists ...

That is interesting!
I assume that the whole brexit affair has piqued an interest in current politics and that more people are watching broadcasts from the HoC.
People who have never before discussed politics are appalled at the dismissive attitude shown to Scotland. Some of them are ex-labour voters who are taken aback by the inept performance of L.P. and so are turning to SNP. Some have voted SNP in the past as an alternative to Labour/Tory but without any strong feelings about independence.
They are now becoming more vociferous and pro-independence rather than seeing SNP as just a viable left of centre party.
I know no-one who has moved in the other direction!

Whatever one's friends or aquaintances say when in conversation about contentious subjects such as Brexit, may not be their true views.
I find that a fair number of people, about 60% at a guess, tend to agree with the person posing the question.
It all depends on the way it is couched.
If asked as ' Don't you think that the present blah blah is shocking and so and so a fraudulent liar' etc the average person tends to agree when there are a few joining in the same conversation, then one or two more join the same side. There is power in numbers and those who privately disagreed but publicly agreed would be less likely to be ostracized and talked about behind their back which they wouldn't want.
It's human nature.

I guess we’ll just have to accept that we talk to different people mcem ...

Boris Johnson once declared that “government by a Scot is just not conceivable in the current constitutional context”, with the Tory MP claiming Gordon Brown suffered from “a personal political disability” as he represented a constituency north of the Border.

newsletters.jpimedia.co.uk/boris-johnson-scots-should-not-become-prime-minister?ecid=ACsprvtetbEUiBfXatsD6Utn6C0zbzUiAfc7SNTXcCUMPO1Al8LQFE-Pjd_GosYksJvzQ_HHGhi-&utm_campaign=The%20Scotsman%20-%20Daily%20RSS&utm_source=hs_email&utm_

If there are any Tory Party members left in Scotland they should take note of this appalling racism.

Tories in Scotland dont give a flying fig about Scotland they are party first last and always people .Thats just the MSP's who are tory.they'd be happy to hand all powers back to WM except then they would lose their jobs ...most are deluded enough to think they'd get a seat at WM ....never will that happen.Scottish tories are a dying race and the sooner they're all gone the better .9000 members of this disgusting ,party of no social conscience will be the only ones in Scotland to have a say about the "leader" There needs to be a GE so we can all have a say

I don't try to control conversations as you seem to and I think you'd find your suggestions less likely to be true here.
Conversations along the lines I mentioned are taking place everywhere and not just in the context of political discussions. Opinions are freely offered, not as a result of questioning.
Perhaps people here are just more honest and staightforward!
Apart from your post here I have never heard a question couched in such terms.
Thank God We live in very different worlds! My main fear is that your world would ever contaminate mine e.g. via BJ's premiership.

My betting is on either Raab losing tonight or Javid.

I mean in the MPs voting, not the debate. That will just be the usual lying rubbish.

Andrea Leadsom just said she’s backing Boris.

Javid's heart doesn't seem to be in it.

Sajid and Rory will be out today.

I hope Rory will be out he's a mini May. Thought the Torys had learnt their lesson.