Who will be our next Conservative leader? Who is right for the job?

The centre of the Tory party has gone now Cleverly has been beaten. Disastrous miscalculation on his part. I didn’t like him as Home Secretary he was folding on everything. He felt he could beat Jenrick but not Badenoch. There’s been a lot of wheeler dealering going on. I don’t think the party wants ‘more of the same’ aka Cleverly. This will bother Labour I think. I also think Labour will be a one term government so they will be be following this leadership contest with the greatest interest.

growstuff

Doodledog

I will say that KB's views on trans issues seems sensible.

But there's more to being a party leader than views on trans issues.

I know! 😂

FriedGreenTomatoes2

The centre of the Tory party has gone now Cleverly has been beaten. Disastrous miscalculation on his part. I didn’t like him as Home Secretary he was folding on everything. He felt he could beat Jenrick but not Badenoch. There’s been a lot of wheeler dealering going on. I don’t think the party wants ‘more of the same’ aka Cleverly. This will bother Labour I think. I also think Labour will be a one term government so they will be be following this leadership contest with the greatest interest.

I don’t understand your rationale FriedGreenTomatoes. The Tories will be looking to take votes from Reform now, the centre ground which is where Labour would look for votes is wide open for them and the Lib Dem’s - and that’s the territory where most UK voters sit. Labour will be breathing a sigh of relief.

So two right wingers then... this will hopefully push labour more to the left.. though given their conduct to date I rather doubt that..

😁

The relief won’t last for very long Casdon if Badenoch is chosen. Unlike Sunak, Badenoch has a verbose, attacking, feisty style of questioning which makes for an entertaining PMQs. It could be quite a challenge to Labour?

You mean some clear blue water between Labour and Tory?
Hmm.
I see what you mean. But Tory being tougher on immigration as both these contenders promise (leaving the ECHC if necessary - Jenrick or ignoring some of their decisions - Badenoch) will worry Labour I think. Unless of course Ms Cooper can pull a rabbit out of a hat.

That was to Casdon.

Cleverly is a one nation wet and embodies all that went wrong for the Tories.

I think Reform & Farage will also be worrying as either Jenrick or Badenoch could steal their thunder.

What went wrong with the Tories, imo is that for years they have tried to morph into UKIP and now Reform. Haven’t they learned from Labour under Corbyn that the electorate don’t vote for extremes?

FriedGreenTomatoes2

You mean some clear blue water between Labour and Tory?
Hmm.
I see what you mean. But Tory being tougher on immigration as both these contenders promise (leaving the ECHC if necessary - Jenrick or ignoring some of their decisions - Badenoch) will worry Labour I think. Unless of course Ms Cooper can pull a rabbit out of a hat.

I’m not sure the water will be blue - or red for that matter. I think middle ground Tories are unlikely to veer right, it’s what the split in the Tory Party has been, and what it has now fractured over. The Lib Dem’s will benefit, and the government will be happy because it means they have more chance of staying in power. I don’t think immigration will be the vote winner for the Tories either. By the next election there will be a Europe wide plan is my opinion, and the overall migration numbers will show a drop this year as a starting point.
I hope it is Badenoch, speaking as a Labour supporter, because she is a motormouth, very prone to putting her foot in it - and is no match for Yvette Cooper in debates, she loses her cool and says daft things too often.

After Badenoch was elected of course local Tories were delighted they are not going to upset Tory central office wether they personally would choose her we will never know

My own view is that Starmer is trying to do what the Tories dare not, that is cut out the freebies both benefits and tax concessions that well heeled Tory voters have been getting, wether his own party will let him is another matter.

If he is successful he will have some spare money to grow the economy, if not he will be out, the Tory press know this and 5 yrs of propaganda will see Labour struggle

Badenoch doesn’t seem the best choice imo. I’m not a Tory voter obvs but we need a strong opposition. She’s unreliable, gaffe prone and dangerously full of herself.

I think Reform & Farage will also be worrying as either Jenrick or Badenoch could steal their thunder.

Thats the point - moving right to try and recapture Reform votes risks losing those Conservatives who chose to stay with their beliefs even where they had the choice for a Reform candidate.

As a labour supporter it is Badenoch who I would say is the biggest worry. There is the chance she will make a massive misstep (due to her impulsiveness and well she sometimes just loses it) but if she can control that she is brave, and can absolutely hold her own in a debate, I have watched her wipe the floor with labour mps over the gender issue.
What has happened to Cleverly is hilarious.

Iam64 well if Badenoch is gaffe prone, unreliable and dangerously full of herself
where does that leave Rachael Reeves?

It leaves Rachel Reeves as Chancellor of the Exchequer ronib doesn’t it? I don’t think she made a gaffe, I think she got what she wanted to do out into the public arena at the beginning, it was an intentional move. We don’t all like it, but that doesn’t make it a gaffe.

ronib

Iam64 well if Badenoch is gaffe prone, unreliable and dangerously full of herself
where does that leave Rachael Reeves?

In government?

Yes RR in government so the buck stops there.

Whataboutery of that kind is no sense ronib

Iam64. I have not known pensioners demonstrate so early in a new government’s term. This government is not going to end well.

What does that have to do with this thread? The government has achieved some positives in its 100 days

ronib

*Iam64*. I have not known pensioners demonstrate so early in a new government’s term. This government is not going to end well.

They're hoping we won't be here to vote in 5 years' time!

Of course, they'll probably get in again if the Tories choose Badenoch as leader.

Iam64 The jury is out on this government’s first 100 days.

The current governments performance to date has no relevance to the selection of the new Tory leader?