So it is going to be Sunak

To me he is still just another extremely rich, right wing tory. Expect nothing from him that will really be good for the majority of us. The rich will continue getting rich and the poor will continue getting poorer.

I wish they would stop dwelling on the fact that he is Asian. As if it matters! It shows we may not be racist in this country but we are nevertheless very aware of race.

MayBee70

Why did Sunak thank and praise Truss? Was he on a different planet during her leadership?

I dare say he was just trying to be nice. You can be sure he’s been thinking for weeks that she made a thorough pig’s breakfast of it, I said she would and I was right, so good riddance - but it would hardly have looked very statesmanlike to say so in his first speech as PM in waiting - especially not when trying to unite a fractured, backstabbing party is going to be a major concern.

No I didn’t MerylStreep but good stuff! He was embarrassing in his NHS efforts jumping on Kate Bingham’s bandwagon at every opportunity.

Urmstongran
Hancock has got a hope in hell. Didn’t you see the way Sunak completely blanked him when arriving at head office. Ouch ?

He’s young isn’t he for the top job? Let’s hope he brings in decent talent for his Cabinet choices. Gove is clever and although devious, has his choice as PM so he might behave and do well. At least he’s intelligent and gets things done. I hope Hancock doesn’t get a post he’s so lightweight. Ditto Shapps.

As GG13 says I suppose at this stage the jury’s out. Actions will speak louder than words. I don’t think the triple lock is safe but let’s hope he rises the Personal Allowance for tax. It’s overdue!

He looks very dapper. Mind you I don’t think Zelensky minded Boris’ shambolic appearance.

I read yesterday that his wife is actually richer than King Charles through her father’s business in India. That seems so strange I couldn’t get my head around her having such wealth!

I think Sunak will be honest, upstanding, morally sound. He doesn’t drink alcohol and isn’t likely to tolerate sleaze in any form. He’s not a great public speaker but if his policies do well perhaps this is a PM we can all rally round and take pride in.

Time will tell eh?

I await with interest the announcements of the new Ministers and Secretaries of State, or not, as the case may be.

growstuff quite agree.

M0nica

growstuff I din't make it clear, the discussion was specifically about income tax.

Ah! OK! I missed the bit about it being specifically about income tax.

Income tax only makes up about 25% of the Treasury's income, so when I see any discussion about taxpayers, I always think "Oh, that's all of us then".

growstuff I din't make it clear, the discussion was specifically about income tax.

MayBee70

Did anyone hear the interview with someone in a red wall constituency who said he didn’t like Rishi because he was rich. The interviewer pointed out that Johnson was rich too but it seems he’s different. I can’t remember what his reasoning was

I think he said that Johnson was a man of the people MayBee. You have to wonder what people.

M0nica

Tax payers come in all sizes from just above the tax threshold, to the richest people in the country. Why shouldn't the better off pay more?

Even people below the income tax threshold pay taxes of various sorts. I doubt if there is anybody in the UK who doesn't pay some form of tax.

Just watching the news. His parents worked hard to send him to a private school. He seemed to come from a relatively normal background with parents who were ambitious for him. I’m willing to give him a chance.

My thought is give him a chance - we could have worse. We HAVE had worse, far worse..

Did anyone hear the interview with someone in a red wall constituency who said he didn’t like Rishi because he was rich. The interviewer pointed out that Johnson was rich too but it seems he’s different. I can’t remember what his reasoning was

At least he looks like he makes an effort with his appearance, a bit of a snappy dresser. He made Johnson look like a scarecrow. I do think think that matters, especially when meeting foreign leaders.

I thought she was saying it jokingly.
It's been his nickname since he came to prominence as Chancellor

An ITV reporter interviewed his constituents - obviously a Sunak Groupie - in Richmond.......one drippy woman was overly ecstatic commenting "yes, it's Dishy Rishi, he's wonderful" What a silly thing to say.

GrannyGravy13

grannyrebel7

I wanted Penny personally. I can't understand how a few weeks ago Rishi wasn't good enough. Now all of a sudden he is. I wonder how long he will last? We definitely need a general election.

I am sure that Mr Sunak was the MPs choice, it was the Party Members who voted for Ms. Truss.

I will not judge until we see what his immediate plans are.

I feel prepared to wait and see GrannyGravy. I don't hope - that feeling has run out, but I do think we have to run into some good luck at some point.

I'm very, very glad it was neither of the alternatives.

I think he ll be solid and not an idiot and is intelligent so a step up from ‘the clown’ BUT. he hasn’t a clue about poverty so anything he does will be for the better off not for folks like me ?
Ah well I ve never voted Tory and never will hopefully the country won’t look quite so idiotic to the rest of the world

Gman

You are all concentrating on who is PM. Will it really matter? the country at present is ungovernable. Already there are MP's braying for ousting Rishi. Rabble rousers who are fake protesters just out for total disruption in the HoP and all over. A Police Service asleep on the job. History tells us that the time and conditions are ripe for Totalitarian Government. God Save Britain. Putin and Xi must be hugging themselves with glee

I don't think that anybody could 'unite' the tory party. It's too far gone in factionalism.

We need a confidence vote and a general election.

The alternative is Labour, which is not a totalitarian party.

You are all concentrating on who is PM. Will it really matter? the country at present is ungovernable. Already there are MP's braying for ousting Rishi. Rabble rousers who are fake protesters just out for total disruption in the HoP and all over. A Police Service asleep on the job. History tells us that the time and conditions are ripe for Totalitarian Government. God Save Britain. Putin and Xi must be hugging themselves with glee

I think he will be calm and polite and utterly ruthless on cuts.

Granny Gravy, yes, "It would be good to see the personal allowance raised, which would help the lower paid, along with ensuring the big corporations pay tax on all profit made/earned in the U.K."

And benefit levels raised - after all, as has been said many times, money spent by people on benefits goes straight back into the economy, as people have no option.

I want to finally see the NHS and Care situation properly sorted as a priority, and given the reality, more support of Voluntary groups who help those most in need, both financially (food banks, warm spaces) and in terms of well minds - tackling loneliness and isolation.

I dont have clear evidence to hand about Penny M's policies. all I do now is that it has long been said that the Labour Party always feared that Penny M the most in terms of an opposition PM, by which I can only assume "softer" social policies, and the reason I'd hoped it would be her.

M0nica

Tax payers come in all sizes from just above the tax threshold, to the richest people in the country. Why shouldn't the better off pay more?

Exactly

MayBee70

Why did Sunak thank and praise Truss? Was he on a different planet during her leadership?

Actually I thought he sounded as weird as Truss. He looked like a rabbit in headlights.