Rory Stewart -Independent

I liked him in 2019 when I hoped he would be elected PM. The problem was he did a couple of silly promotion clips and a tie thing on a televised program. That aside, he is very intelligent competent person, a lot better than those who have been in power the last two years.

What’s the point of Stewart standing? He isn’t an MP, hasn’t been one for about two years and is working in the US.He has left politics and the UK.
Whoever is put up in the constituency I imagine a Conservative will win, as Paterson won with a large share of the vote.

The point of Stewart standing is he isn’t an MP so can stand. He is popular with many people and has integrity

Stewart did an interview with the New Statesman a couple of months ago.

www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/07/rory-stewart-road-again

It sounds as though he's disillusioned with party politics in the UK, but interestingly he said this about running for London mayor again:

"Is he tempted to run next time? “Yes, very. But I have to work out how. It would be easier if Sadiq is not running again.” Stewart has done the maths: he had 60 per cent name recognition and says he needs 90. “I need a scandal!” His voice goes high again, gripped by the absurd. “A big scandal!”

Well, there's certainly a big scandal now!

Iam64

The point of Stewart standing is he isn’t an MP so can stand. He is popular with many people and has integrity

My point is that he is out of politics....and is hardly popular anyway.

lemongrove

Iam64

The point of Stewart standing is he isn’t an MP so can stand. He is popular with many people and has integrity

My point is that he is out of politics....and is hardly popular anyway.

But it wouldn't take much, if he decides he wants a new challenge, which as an independent MP he would have.

I think he's more popular than you seem to think. It depends whether he can find the financial backing in time. I wouldn't rule it out. He raised £5000 in 42 days to support his bid to be London mayor. I think more people would chip in this time.

I would vote for him. It would be a refreshing change to have someone with integrity.

As an Independent MP he's not going to be high profile, just a backbencher hopefully if he gets in a good one. I expect the seat will stay blue.
Tbh Lord Mayor of London is on a different level. I think that's still on his wish list, keeps his name known, doubt that dream will come true.

Obviously he has a fan club on GN, I'm not one.

I'm not a fan either Visgirl. At heart, he's a Tory and that's not going to change. On the other hand, that seat is Tory and the hearts and minds of the voters aren't going to change either.

I'd like to see an anti-sleaze contender, to send a clear message to the government that people do care how they're governed. However, I think it needs to be somebody without a history of party membership. "One issue" candidates can win seats, so it has to be somebody who is squeaky clean and can't have any dirt thrown at him/her.

growstuff

I'm not a fan either Visgirl. At heart, he's a Tory and that's not going to change. On the other hand, that seat is Tory and the hearts and minds of the voters aren't going to change either.

I'd like to see an anti-sleaze contender, to send a clear message to the government that people do care how they're governed. However, I think it needs to be somebody without a history of party membership. "One issue" candidates can win seats, so it has to be somebody who is squeaky clean and can't have any dirt thrown at him/her.

Agree

Even if he could win as an independent I don’t think he’d want to be part of a political system that has Johnson as its leader. It’s sad that so many decent Conservative politicians feel that way.

I think he is not as good as he appears to be superficially. He has an aura of being very civilised, but he supports hunting, and that is enough to make him beyond the pale for me.

OK if not Stewart. - who?

I’m not bothered as long as it is a person integrity that sends a clear message to the sewer, that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

The reason I plumped for Stewart is because it will almost certainly remain Tory unless there is an alliance of anyone left of the Tories. He seems someone of integrity bit I admit his voting record is very dodgy.

It has to be someone who has the spine to stand up to Johnson and not tolerate any corruption.

MayBee70

Even if he could win as an independent I don’t think he’d want to be part of a political system that has Johnson as its leader. It’s sad that so many decent Conservative politicians feel that way.

It would depend if he believed he could face the "cruel world of politics" to challenge Johnson's verbosity - which sadly the cap-doffers seem to like, seeing Johnson as some both above them and something special

He would, I think, get cross party support in the country. As I say, though, I would want to know a more about his actual politics.

Many Conservative voters will never switch to Labour but will vote LibDem. I wish we had some sort of alliance with them, especially with Labour no longer having a foothold in Scotland.

The Lib Dems overturned a 16,000 Tory majority in Chesham and it was a lot to do with Londoners moving out. Patterson's seat is North Shropshire so there might not be so many Londoners there.

Apparently the Lib Dems are worried about the next GE because they think that disaffected Tory voters, won't vote Tory but will stay at home. It would be good if the people that we hear about on here could bring themselves to vote LibDem.