Who should lead the Tories now?

Well doesnt that say something about tories when someone can suggest that a proven liar, cheat, maker of rules that he does not keep himself , arrogant thinking he is better than others should actually be given another chance to be seen as representative of this country. As a liar who would even attempt to make any agreements with him as he cannot keep his word and is not to be trusted. Yes go ahead make him the leader and that will make sure they never get back into power. Still he would get on with donald Trump as 2 of a kind wouldnt he?

They were in power with Johnson and I think it quite likely Trump will win another term.

I honestly cant see who could stand and win and make a difference, and hold the party together, but I don't know the newer players. either way, it will be up to Conservative Party members - do they know any more?

I think Sunak should stay in place for the next six months, before the Conservatives decide who their next leader will be.

They need to take time to analyse where they went wrong and which direction they want to go in and who the electorate, who make the fina; decision over who is in power, are likely to support and then choose with care and thought.

Of course they will not do that. It is going to take at least two and may be three changes of leader to sort that out.

That’s a big ask though I think M0nica. I feel sorry for him if that’s the expectation because he must be very bruised after the last few weeks. It would be much better if they appointed an interim leader from the last cabinet to carry them through the next couple of weeks until the recess at least. Maybe Jeremy Hunt, he’s a tough and experienced cookie, who could handle it.

Jeremy Hunt is reported to hsve said he will not stand, SKYnews

Interesting times! If the Conservatives choose somebody like Patel, Braveman or Badenoch, they're putting a marker down about the direction they're going in. They might bring back some Reform voters back into the fold, but I doubt if they'd attract "traditional" Conservative voters. If you look at a map of the results, much of the south west and south has voted for the LibDems, which presumably means they reject the hard-line Conservative approach to issues such as immigration.

Reform is strong in what used to be "traditional" Labour areas and some coastal enclaves. I wonder if we'd end up with Conservatives in Labour areas and something else (LibDems or even a rightish Labour Party) in more affluent areas. It could mean that the parties swap their voters.

I haven't done the sums, but I wonder how many votes in total Reform and Conservatives received because that would give some indication of how successful a Conservative Party with a Reform agenda would be. The Conservatives lost votes to both Reform and LibDems, so they might need to look at how many votes they would receive if they headed towards a more "one nation" approach. The trouble with this last election is that there was so much tactical voting that it's difficult to know whether people really voted for the party they preferred.

I have no idea what they'll decide, but it will be interesting to watch.

Anniebach

Jeremy Hunt is reported to hsve said he will not stand, SKYnews

Yes, I was thinking purely of the interim Anniebach, if he takes himself out of the game by saying he doesn’t want to be the leader on a permanent basis perhaps he could hold it all together while they decide, and be a strong opposition to Labour? I can’t think of anybody else, other than David Cameron who would be as capable in the short term.

I think Tom Tugenhat would be a good bet for the new LOTO.

The Buffoon got rid of some of the most able Tory MPs like David Gauke. Most of those now elected seem to be Right wing so I guess they'll want a Right-winger like Badenoch. That probably means they will stay in fantasy land and be unelectable.

If Kemi Badenoch becomes leader and is as unpopular with the country as she is with her constituents (who would historically have voted for a donkey with a blue rosette), the Conservatives really will be unelectable.

I would have said Penny Mordant if she had regained her seat. No one is inspiring confidence atm

If Kemi Badenoch becomes leader and is as unpopular with the country as she is with her constituents (who would historically have voted for a donkey with a blue rosette), the Conservatives really will be unelectable

Badenoch gets my vote then - not that I’ll have a vote in that particular bun fight😉

That's why they should ignore people who will never vote for them.

Galaxy

That's why they should ignore people who will never vote for them.

Do you think an internal divorce is on the way within the party Galaxy?

The Times today has a detailed list of the results in all seats. It shows that in the majority of seats that changed hands the Tory plus Reform votes totalled more than those of the winning candidate. Many of the Reform voters would prob otherwise have stayed at home but this does show the now nationwide spread of the angry, unsophisticated and susceptible electorate on which reform preys.

The Tory need to take a very long spoon if they are going to sup hwith Reform.

The majority of voters voted for the more centre left progressive parties. Only the minority voted for the right or far right.

Perhaps it would make more sense for the Tories to pull back to the centre right?

I dont know Casdon. They tend to go absolutely bonkers when they fail, look at the ineffective leaders they had after Major. I think politics is changing completely, no longer are you a labour voter or a Tory voter because your family has always voted that way. The influence of the press is also disappearing, interesting times. But I don't want the 'left' unchecked by opposition in the same way I dont want the right unchallenged.

I agree Galaxy, it’s a real melting pot at the moment. Trying to meet the wants and wishes of an electorate with such different values is very difficult.

Larry the cat couldn't do much worse than the last five and a whole lot better than Truss.

In the last half hour my dog has thrown himself down some rapids, got stuck in some sort of mud bank, and vomited twice. I do have some reservations about pets as world leaders.

Magsymoo

What a good idea. Let’s bring back a disgraced former PM. A man who has lied and cheated in his personal and professional life for personal gain over and over again. A man who has contributed massively to a decline in standards in public life which has spilled out into ordinary life. Yes, that’s just what the country needs!

Better the devil you know I suppose.

Galaxy

It wouldnt be a good idea to bring Johnson back but they would have been in a better position if they had stuck with him. The question isnt who we like or who is a good man/woman, its who should lead the Tories, and I assume the aim of that leadership would be to gain power.

Oh yes bring back a proven liar. I cannot understand folk who would even contemplate that. I really really cant stand the buffoon and his “entitlement”.

The membership of the Conservative Party, not just MPs, vote for the leader. That's how we got Liz Truss. Perhaps the Conservatives should think again about giving their membership too much say. Or maybe they've joined Reform anyway.
Incidentally, the Electoral Reform Society has shown on its website a diagram mapping MPs elected by proportional representation (system unspecified). Labour plus Lib Dem do outnumber Conservative plus Reform, but not by much.

Romola

The membership of the Conservative Party, not just MPs, vote for the leader. That's how we got Liz Truss. Perhaps the Conservatives should think again about giving their membership too much say. Or maybe they've joined Reform anyway.
Incidentally, the Electoral Reform Society has shown on its website a diagram mapping MPs elected by proportional representation (system unspecified). Labour plus Lib Dem do outnumber Conservative plus Reform, but not by much.

Given the opportunity the Conservative Party Members would vote Johnson back in as leader, they think he was very unjustly deposed