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

growstuff

Trueloveways

Badenoch is running her campaign from the house of a climate denier, Neil Record, so I wouldn’t bank on her having any green credentials. You can often learn quite a bit about someone when you look at the circles they mix in.

I wonder how much the rental of Record's London home is worth? Has Badenoch declared it? How does this compare with Lord Alli's home? Why isn't this making headline news?

Why can't she run her campaign from her constituency second home, which she rarely uses?

"I wonder how much the rental of Record's London home is worth? Has Badenoch declared it? How does this compare with Lord Alli's home? Why isn't this making headline news?"

Two Tier newspapers? Joking apart, its really, really biased and given the fuss all summer, in MSM, SM, and in GN, where's the fairness in this?

Galaxy

It's how they historically behave post election failure, but I think politics has changed so much in recent times that it's impossible to predict. It seems the electorate is much more likely to switch allegiance these days, it's possible you could have a Tory victory at the next election. I certainly didnt think Starmer would turn the labour party around in such a short time. I viewed him as a kinnock rather than as a PM. The same could happen for the Tories.

I think they are more the Corbyns of the right than Kinnocks to be fair, and that was pretty recent?

Wyllow3 both Conservative candidates should be transparent about their campaign details along with any donations.

We can only post views on a subject we are aware of.

Yes, I think that goes for all political/public life figures and you have always said that in your posts - across the board.

Wyllow3

Yes, I think that goes for all political/public life figures and you have always said that in your posts - across the board.

I agree. I am not defending any of it, but it strikes me as 'interesting' that this has only become an issue since there has been a change of government.

Yes, there were complaints about Michelle Mone, for instance, and the people who got Covid contracts, but there should have been prosecutions, not just complaints. And they were actually corrupt events, not possible conflicts of interest.

Whataboutery is always annoying, and two wrongs have never made a right, but it is hard to sit back when people say that they want donations stamped out now, when there was nary a squeak when the boot was on the other foot.

I'd be pleased to see donations banned, if only to stop the distractions from actual politics that we've seen recently, but there has to be another way to fund campaigns. There is no way that I could afford to start up a party and run a nationwide campaign, for instance, and this is true of the vast majority of people. We can't go back to the days when this was acceptable, and only the sons of the rich could be MPs.

Money for campaigns, salaries, travel and housing expenses are not 'perks'. They exist to ensure that people who are not rich Londoners can participate in politics and can represent groups of people from across the country of all income levels.

Realistically there's no magic money in a pot to fund different parties political campaigns, it will have to carry on being donations, but we can set limits. and limits on whats necessary to do an MP's job.

But these are separate from "perks" and contracts for pals and so on and transparency on these.

David and Samantha Cameron received funding from the Tory Party funds directly to upgrade their clothing prior to the 2010 election campaign. There are so many potential ways to use the party funds other than elections I think, it’s all smoke and mirrors. All MPs know this happens all the time, which is why Starmer wasn’t given a hard time at PMQ about it, despite the press interest.

Casdon

David and Samantha Cameron received funding from the Tory Party funds directly to upgrade their clothing prior to the 2010 election campaign. There are so many potential ways to use the party funds other than elections I think, it’s all smoke and mirrors. All MPs know this happens all the time, which is why Starmer wasn’t given a hard time at PMQ about it, despite the press interest.

Absolutely. Things like clothes are just a way to run budgets at less cost to supporters. I give you a dress, you don't have to buy it at retail price, so the money can go on photocopying or whatever, and it is declared at the cost to me, which is way below the retail price, and my design gets free publicity. It's how red carpet occasions and awards ceremonies work, too.

Those complaining about this sort of thing obviously don't realise that, which is fair enough, as most people don't live that sort of life. It seems much more unfair than it is. alternatively, they do understand the quid pro quo, but are looking for ways to undermine the people concerned.

Or they think the optics of that for the labour party are disastrous and wish they wouldnt do it.

As long as people are even handed in their interpretation of what is disastrous, and apply the same rules to all parties I agree Galaxy. Accusing Labour of being hypocritical but turning a blind eye to Tories, or others, who do the same is in itself hypocritical.

Re Neil Record and Badenoch: they are cosy: more than borrowing his flat: £10.000 gift

www.desmog.com/2024/08/19/kemi-badenoch-campaign-accepts-donation-chair-tufton-street-climate-denial-group-net-zero-watch-neil-record/

Its also just come out today

*Councillor who oversaw Grenfell works donated to Badenoch’s Tory leadership bid

Survivor of blaze which killed 72 ‘disgusted’

Quentin Marshall gave £5,000 to candidate promoting deregulation*

www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/11/councillor-who-oversaw-grenfell-works-donated-to-kemi-badenoch-tory-leadership-bid

I haven't checked yet if this appears in other newspapers.

Galaxy

Or they think the optics of that for the labour party are disastrous and wish they wouldnt do it.

That’s not the same as complaining about their doing it though. It’s complaining that doing it will attract complaints from people who don’t understand the system or who just want an excuse to complain

Councillor who oversaw Grenfell works donated to Badenoch’s Tory leadership bid

Thanks for this Wyllow.

I am truly shocked by this and agree with the Grenfell survivor who describes it as ‘disgusting’.

Will it reported by any other media outlets - I doubt it

Galaxy

Or they think the optics of that for the labour party are disastrous and wish they wouldnt do it.

There's a lot of food for thought in that. I'd be lying if I said there weren't some grey areas for me on one that as events unfolded as I found out more about how systems have worked in the past and the different sort of donations.

In the end I think, "has to be one rule for all MP's"

I shouldn’t be shocked by either the news that a councillor who oversaw Grenfell has donated to Badenoch’s leadership bid. Or that someone called Quentin Marshall gave £5000 to a candidate promoting deregulation.
I remember Cameron promising a bonfire of red tape and the dismissal of many ‘pen pushers’. The red tape building regs are having to be reinstated as it’s obvious they’re needed, that was obvious to many at the time Cameron was setting fire to it.

Despite the bonfire of red tape it’s multiplied and will continue, even claiming benefits is so complex that those needing it most are the ones that find it most difficult.

Don’t mention legal documentation a simple lease can be 12 pages long.

Cameron’s red tape included building regs - hence dangerous

If you are referring to Grenfel the council wanted the tower clad as cheaply as possible the cladding was approved by building inspectors
Dozens of towers were clad the same way, the Government approved the regulations so they should pay and not try to pass the buck.

Yes - the fire service inspectors tested the cladding and confirmed it was dangerous. Building regs had been diminished and passed it

The two remaining candidates are too far right. Brexit did for the Tories and the latest debacle will push the conservative party further into oblivion. I know Brexit has taken a long time to come home to roost but the damage is now clear for all to see.

Shall we at least try to get back to the topic of the thread?
Donations, Brexit, Grenfell, are all threads in themselves after all.
The two remaining Conservative candidates are more right wing than the ones knocked out of the ballot but that may suit the Party overall and take the wind out of Reform’s sails.That may also play well in the future whenever there’s an election considering the large number of votes to Reform.
I think that Jenrick is the one more likely to unite the Party than Badenoch.

Sir Keir Starmer.

mae13

Sir Keir Starmer.

good one...

Oreo

Shall we at least try to get back to the topic of the thread?
Donations, Brexit, Grenfell, are all threads in themselves after all.
The two remaining Conservative candidates are more right wing than the ones knocked out of the ballot but that may suit the Party overall and take the wind out of Reform’s sails.That may also play well in the future whenever there’s an election considering the large number of votes to Reform.
I think that Jenrick is the one more likely to unite the Party than Badenoch.

Whether Labour win the next GE depends on how successful Starmers policies are, he has been given difficult choices, whether the party support him is crucial.

We could just as easily get split, left wing politics so let’s not be complacent.

I also think Jenrick character-wise is more able to do deals and keep the party together. I cannot admire him after finding out the extent of his willingness to accept donations and shady past as regards planning favours, but Badenoch I may be wrong but see her as a "my way or no way" and not a team player/compromise broker, and compromise will be necessary to keep the party together?

Was it necessary to swing towards Reform at the cost of One nation thinking? I really don't know.