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

Wyllow3

I did want to try and open a genuine space about persons and politics in the next opposition party as it isn't being discussed elsewhere.

I am not a Tory voter and cannot imagine ever being one - but I would like to see a sturdy Opposition.

Which comes first - does the party decide its direction before choosing a leader or does the leader choose the direction?

Being somewhat in-the-middle politically I'd like to see (as one or two others have said) a more centrist party - a sort of kinder interpretation of 'Toryism'; more 'traditionally' Conservative. Quite distinct from the Reform company / party, otherwise I believe there might be factional-fighting within the party (Tory) between those who want a more rightward approach and the more centrist.

And - I do wonder how Reform are going to behave - they, well, Farage anyway, were all-guns-blazing going to hold the Tories to account in the future because of the way in which, in his opinion, they had mis-managed Brexit and Immigration. And because they hope / plan to be the official Opposition in 2029. However, now that Farage has relinquished overall control (and his shareholding) of the company, well who knows if it will make waves within the Tory party?

I'd also like to see the party - whoever becomes its leader - taking a less confrontational approach to Europe - the EU, than the previous government which, - certainly under Johnson's leadership, with the aid of Rees-Mogg - sometimes behaved in a very juvenile fashion after Brexit, blaming the EU for self-inflicted 'injuries'.

I don't really care who leads the party, as long as that individual acts like a grown-up, hasn't got a sleazy reputation and isn't just in it for purely self-interest.

... but - I'd like to hear from traditional, or would-be, Tory voters. It's their party, and their views matter.

Wyllow3

I did want to try and open a genuine space about persons and politics in the next opposition party as it isn't being discussed elsewhere.

I wouldnt apologise for starting a thread.
Everyone is allowed to do so, and with whatever topic they wish to talk about.

The irony is that I personally think Sunak is a better choice for now than any of the contenders. I know he doesn’t want to continue though, which is understandable. I don’t like Badenoch or what she stands for, and none of the other three stand out above each other to me so far. Perhaps somebody will emerge from the conference as a clear front runner, I hope so. Interesting times.

Casdon completely agree with you on Sunak ….

A Tory voter here. My choice would be Tugendhat.

Of the candidates, Tugendhat seems best or least worse to me.

ronib, you’re a riot. Gransnet a predominantly Labiur site 😂😂😂😂

Tugenhadt for me as well.

It should be the person who the 'left' want least.

That wouldn’t be Tugendhat then 🌞

I’m not a Conservative Party member (not any political party member) and am uninspired by any of them.
I don’t know who the left want least, maybe Kemi Badenoch, but who I want, I don’t know. None of them jump out at me.

Why do they not have someone of the stature of Tobias Ellwood standing? Even as a lifelong Labour voter I’m sad that he lost his seat and realise that he never coveted the top job job but, as with Ken Clark I think, if I was in his constituency I would have been tempted to vote for him. Supposedly MP’s don’t want Badenoch to go through to the final vote because they know what she’s like but think that party members will vote for her ( why they would is beyond me).

Badenoch is one of those who you can hear giving reasoned, intelligent points that get you thinking, yes you're right, then she carries on and you think oh for goodness' sake.....

I developed a bit of a soft spot for Hestletine when I heard his speech at the march asking for a second vote on the referendum on Brexit. He was so considered, yet so passionate. I suppose some came from combined crowd emotion, but there were lots with tears in their eyes.

Rosie51

Badenoch is one of those who you can hear giving reasoned, intelligent points that get you thinking, yes you're right, then she carries on and you think oh for goodness' sake.....

I developed a bit of a soft spot for Hestletine when I heard his speech at the march asking for a second vote on the referendum on Brexit. He was so considered, yet so passionate. I suppose some came from combined crowd emotion, but there were lots with tears in their eyes.

He came to one of our people’s vote meetings. He was so ministerial. I felt as if I wanted to doff my cap or curtesy in front of him.

Galaxy

It should be the person who the 'left' want least.

The "government makers" in the country are the centrists and floating voters, not the "left".

Just as an aside, I wonder who will be the next Labour leader ?

I am not inspired by any of the candidates. There are only two I could think of who could do the job but they don't want it and who could blame them. We need a good opposition but I can't see one. Think I will let myself have a break from politics for the first time in my life. So cheesed of with KS and co, whom we have now for five years, I can't think of a worst scenario, they are feckless, greedy and lack any integrity and any interest in the people that voted them in. I just hope they dig a big enough hole and fall in but they will climb out a whole lot wealthier, Even millionaire KS has seen to that. They act then think which is dangerous. It's a very depressing picture, not for me, I'm old, but sad for my grandchildren and
that generation with these as an example.

I suspect that whoever becomes Tory leader won't last long and will just be there while the party regroups.

But, whoever, please not Badenoch.

I think both paties need to to concentrate on making themselves electable again. Lets face it, we have had a change of government, with Labour getting only 35% of the vote, and a with a growing proportion of people opting out of the whole process. Turnout this year was only 60%. As recently as 1997 it was nearly 80%.

So, as I say, the parties need to make themselves electable by looking to the electorate and trying to understand what they want and devise policies that have a wide appeal. Currently both parties are in thrall, or in fear of their right/leftwing, as appropriate, and try to formulate policies that are acceptable to their extremists (think Kemi Badenoch's recent comments on maternity leave) or the RMT Union boss, Mick Lynch, saying 'The complete organisation of the UK economy by trade unions – that’s our aim.'

When they have done that, then we can hope that new, able and trustworthy leaders will get elected and command respect, not just in their parties, but in the country.

As things stand, I can see an election coming, where half or more of the electorate stay at home, how could a government elected with such a mandate claim any right to power.

Badenoch is reported (radio 4 this morning) to have said that maternity leave is bad for business. She was talking about abolishing it but back peddled and withdrew her outrageous comments. She’s the front runner - awful

The new leader will be elected by the Tory grassroots. This does not auger well as they gave us Truss last time. Obviously the grassroots are at the barmy end of Tory supporters.

At one time I thought that Tugendhat was OK but he seems to be moving to the right. During his interview with Trevor Philips yesterday he mentioned that he had been instrumental in setting up a government in Afghanistan. I thought that was a bit silly, given the current state of that country.

From a non Tory

Grantanow

The new leader will be elected by the Tory grassroots. This does not auger well as they gave us Truss last time. Obviously the grassroots are at the barmy end of Tory supporters.

Not a pleasant remark.

There’s definitely some trashing of the candidates going on now in the media, I’ve seen less than complimentary things in the last couple of days about Jenrick too. We seem to have allowed them to sink into the gutter and people lap it up, quality journalism is ever rarer.

Grantanow

The new leader will be elected by the Tory grassroots. This does not auger well as they gave us Truss last time. Obviously the grassroots are at the barmy end of Tory supporters.

Oh thank you so much for your character analysis of my friends and family.

Iam64, I was dismayed to hear Ms Badenoch's views on maternity leave.
I hope that she does not look at everything through the short term lens of " bad for business". I look for politicians who have a clearer, longer vision.
As an aside, as a definite non Conservative, I have felt respect for Mr Sunak and am feeling that he handled his poisoned chalice well.
In the spirit of full disclosure I must add that I thought that Liz Truss was a disaster.