Senior Tories expect a mass exodus of Tory MPS.

Casdon

It will be interesting to see how many do say they are going in advance, because it’s a barometer of their pessimism about the election result. I wonder if the number will exceed the number of Labour MPs who left in 2010?

I think the general in fighting is also a measure "Casdon*.

Apparently Sunak has a plan to counter this. Rumour has it that he is going to say Starmer is too old to make goverment decisions. Starmer is 60. I wonder what the average age of Tory Party members and voters is? Also Churchill was over 70 when the war ended and the population then seemed to think he was okay on the decision-making front and this was when the average age was 59!

The next idea is that Sunak will attack Starmer's character. We have already seen some of this with what would be slander if said outside Parliament.

The Mail on Sunday already appears to be going down this line. It will be more of what we have seen already as Labour scales back its pledges until it can get into office and see exactly what damage has been done to the economy. I would call this prudent. Older Conservatives like prudence.

This all has the flavour of the Trump's negative campaigning. I wonder if Sunak is beginning to look longingly over the the Atlantic?

DaisyAnneReturns

Casdon

It will be interesting to see how many do say they are going in advance, because it’s a barometer of their pessimism about the election result. I wonder if the number will exceed the number of Labour MPs who left in 2010?

I think the general in fighting is also a measure "Casdon*.

Apparently Sunak has a plan to counter this. Rumour has it that he is going to say Starmer is too old to make goverment decisions. Starmer is 60. I wonder what the average age of Tory Party members and voters is? Also Churchill was over 70 when the war ended and the population then seemed to think he was okay on the decision-making front and this was when the average age was 59!

The next idea is that Sunak will attack Starmer's character. We have already seen some of this with what would be slander if said outside Parliament.

The Mail on Sunday already appears to be going down this line. It will be more of what we have seen already as Labour scales back its pledges until it can get into office and see exactly what damage has been done to the economy. I would call this prudent. Older Conservatives like prudence.

This all has the flavour of the Trump's negative campaigning. I wonder if Sunak is beginning to look longingly over the the Atlantic?

I can’t wait - Sunak will look a right pillock if he tries to attack Starmer on age, as Boris Johnson is 59, and Teresa May is 66. Does he think that his own youth is a magic elixir for success?

I found this article which goes through the key leavers.
news.sky.com/story/tory-mps-quitting-the-commons-are-on-average-15-years-younger-than-labour-12887713

To be honest I didn't believe it when I heard it. Although I have found the source reliable. But an article in the Mail along those lines ... they are a bit of a weathervane on these things.

If the numbers of "rats" goes up significantly we should keep a list.

DAR we don’t need to keep a list as it’s available online. Seems quite regular for MPs not to keep standing for re-election.

ronib

DAR we don’t need to keep a list as it’s available online. Seems quite regular for MPs not to keep standing for re-election.

You’ve missed the point I think ronib. MPs saying they aren’t going to stand at the next election is a barometer of their confidence in their party being re-elected, and the internal state of the party. 100 Labour MPs stood down at the 2010 election, compared with 35 Tories, which was the beginning of 13 years of Tory government.

So far Casdon around 40 Conservatives standing down? Not sure that it does confirm state of the party or barometer of feeling. Pretty average number?

This must be why so few are seen in the House.They will be up dating their C.V's
I do think that perhaps MP's should have to be at work to get paid. As far as I can see Nadine Dorries is still getting her salary but is doing no work for her constituency whatsoever.

I'm slightly confused about the Dorries situation. As soon as she learnt that she wasn't to be elevated to the peerage, she threw her toys out of the pram and announced her resignation but so far as I know, she hasn't applied for the 'Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds' or whatever Crown appointments resigning or retiring MPs do apply for.

Mass Exodus ! We need a total exodus of the whole greedy lying twisted corrupt Tory party, they are the ones causing high energy prices, who helped slaughter 1,000's during covid because of their dilly dallying and mishandling of the outbreak, they're the ones who poisoned peoples minds in to voting for Brexit causing price rises, who caused poverty amongst the working classes, who starved the NHS of vital funds for 12 years, they're the ones causing massive debt for our students. they're the ones who twist and lie about everything under the Sun... the sooner they are voted out the better, regardless of what people think about Labour, we cannot afford another round of Tory ruling, but on top of this we must ensure they never ever get chance to gain power again... Let's get Labour voted in...we desperately need a change, for our sake and our children's sake !!!!

I think you should stop listening or reading about rumours in the Mail On Sunday or any other paper DaisyAnneReturns
They’re trying to grab attention is all that is.I doubt very much that Sunak will go for any of those things against Starmer, tho of course he will say that Starmer is a weak leader or similar, they all do that about each other.

ronib

So far Casdon around 40 Conservatives standing down? Not sure that it does confirm state of the party or barometer of feeling. Pretty average number?

I would think that’s an average number if 100 Labour MP’s stood down before the 2010 general election.

Oreo

ronib

So far Casdon around 40 Conservatives standing down? Not sure that it does confirm state of the party or barometer of feeling. Pretty average number?

I would think that’s an average number if 100 Labour MP’s stood down before the 2010 general election.

The headline in yesterday's Telegraph was "Tories face biggest walkout of MPs since 1997". I wonder why they don't find it average?

DAR guessing that the Daily Telegraph has its own axe to grind and has not supported Sunak as prime minister? Don’t believe everything/anything you read in the papers.

DaisyAnneReturns

Oreo

ronib

So far Casdon around 40 Conservatives standing down? Not sure that it does confirm state of the party or barometer of feeling. Pretty average number?

I would think that’s an average number if 100 Labour MP’s stood down before the 2010 general election.

The headline in yesterday's Telegraph was "Tories face biggest walkout of MPs since 1997". I wonder why they don't find it average?

There were 7 in June, and if it continues at the same rate per month for a year, assuming that MPs will want to give sufficient notice for a replacement candidate to be announced a further 84 will come forward in the interim. As discussed on the thread Oreo, it’s therefore interesting to keep a watching brief for we political nerds..

I can only speak as somebody interested in politics but not a nerd Casdon
I think the word if is a pretty big word too, if it continued at the same rate every month for a year then it could be a larger than usual number. It’s just as likely that it won’t do.
Being an MP is a job after all, no matter who’s in power at the time.

Oreo

I can only speak as somebody interested in politics but not a nerd Casdon
I think the word if is a pretty big word too, if it continued at the same rate every month for a year then it could be a larger than usual number. It’s just as likely that it won’t do.
Being an MP is a job after all, no matter who’s in power at the time.

Isn’t that the point of keeping a watching brief though Oreo. Something is in the press as a speculative statement, so you watch it to see if it actually happens or not? If you don’t find it interesting that’s fine, but I do.

Tbh I find something more interesting which has actually happened or is happening right this moment.
What do they say?A week in politics is a very long time.😄

Oreo

Tbh I find something more interesting which has actually happened or is happening right this moment.
What do they say?A week in politics is a very long time.😄

Really? I find what’s happening at this moment utterly depressing.

For political commentators you seem to have overlooked the very close ties Boris Johnson has with the Daily Telegraph. It’s so obviously supporting the come back kid … seriously 😐

ronib

For political commentators you seem to have overlooked the very close ties Boris Johnson has with the Daily Telegraph. It’s so obviously supporting the come back kid … seriously 😐

I’d start a thread about that if I were you ronib?

Why Casdon a separate thread as it’s part of this debate surely?

I don’t personally think that the prospect of Boris Johnson wanting to return to politics at some point is going to stop existing MPs leaving at the next election ronib, his support is very small within the parliamentary party now, and a number of his supporters have already said they are going. They aren’t going to back a lame donkey.
But, if you want to gauge the feelings on Gransnet, a separate thread would be a better place to do so than here in my opinion.

Casdon - wires crossed - my point is that the Daily Telegraph is possibly in the business of trying to make the worst case scenario for Sunak? At this time we don’t know exactly how many MPs are leaving but that doesn’t stop the DT from pushing the line? Just a thought-and BJ has had a very close relationship with them. Although I prefer your analysis of lame donkey so maybe not an issue!

ronib

DAR guessing that the Daily Telegraph has its own axe to grind and has not supported Sunak as prime minister? Don’t believe everything/anything you read in the papers.

I don't.

I repeated this because the Telgraph talks to Tories. It doesn't seem to be able to give them any good news.