Priti Patel? Seriously?

At least now you know! Any wavering thought of supporting the Conservative Party is now completely out.

She's clashed badly with Braverman in the past, as well as her record on bullying. Known as intractable, I dont see her as a team player, but she shares some views with Badenoch.

She was also forced to resign due to her dodgy dealings with Israel. And for several other reasons she is not someone who I would want to be in a position of power.

Ages not in a position of power though. She's a third rate politician in a fading party.

Very happy to let the Tories play their gameswhile they have no power.

Mistake by Badenoch? It would seem so.

A week is a long time in politics. Here today and gone tomorrow. Priti Patel probably won’t be in government anytime soon. Slight over reaction?

I'd like to see a well functioning opposition but this appointment is a mystery to me. I cant see Patel working "under" Badenoch character wise.

Wyllow3 we have never had a well functioning opposition have we? The system doesn’t allow for one.

Awful appointment. Calls Badenoch's judgment into question. And looking at this and other appointments it's just more of the same, failed old faces.

Well I'm quite happy to see Priti Patel in the shadow cabinet. I question the quality of the cabinet members of the current Government given the decisions being made at the moment. And that includes the Prime Minister. Third rate, as mentioned above and out of their depth.

ronib

Wyllow3 we have never had a well functioning opposition have we? The system doesn’t allow for one.

TBH, we just don't have a well functioning system of government. It's based on archaic 'conventions', it's subject to manipulation by the party in power, its MPs are an eclectic mix of ideologues, amateurs, the dedicated and the ambitious, grifters and 'straight'. Ministers can implement disastrous plans, or excellent ones which can be overturned by the next minister or government in power. It's subject to short termism, with policies which look no further ahead than the next general election. Legislation can be voted through without proper scrutiny and can be so sketchily framed that it can be altered at will by ministers without any further parliamentary scrutiny.

The only bit that seems to work well is the Select Committee mechanism where cross party committees can scrutinise the work of departments and produce excellent reports by consensus..; reports which are then ignored by government...

All in all, it's a mess.

Grandmabatty

Ages not in a position of power though. She's a third rate politician in a fading party.

I so agree Grandmabatty they are a fading party. I think she said she had few politicians to choose from since so many lost their seats. I don't see either of them around for long, they're too extreme, but I do look forward to fireworks in the Tory party as they fade away. I think the same has happened to them as the royals, modern journalism is showing the other side of the establishment and the people are turning away.

It took Labour 14 years to get its act together after the Tony Blair/Gordon Brown years, they didn’t win with Jeremy Corbyn.

It’s far too early to be celebrating the demise of the Conservative Party.

(Or the Royal Family)

Yes, a truly awful appointment. Priti Patel has had so many chances and always shown her true colours. At least she can't do much harm now it is just a shadow post.

ronib

Wyllow3 we have never had a well functioning opposition have we? The system doesn’t allow for one.

As per discussed other thread ...🙂

GrannyGravy13

It took Labour 14 years to get its act together after the Tony Blair/Gordon Brown years, they didn’t win with Jeremy Corbyn.

It’s far too early to be celebrating the demise of the Conservative Party.

(Or the Royal Family)

Well said.

I don’t think Kemi had much to choose from. Is slim pickings. Nobody in the Tory party has the gravitas of the Tories that once demanded our attention and sometimes our respect whether we supported the party or not.
Tories like Heseltine, Clarke, Major, Hague, Whitelaw. Grandees who are notable by their absence today. Now the party is reduced to hanging onto the shirt tails of Reform with no real identity anymore.

I certainly think it's fair to say that after a bit defeat that re-grouping cant happen rapidly. I haven't felt its demise was on the way, as its my impression from many posters here they'd like a middle ground Conservative presence in politics.

Their greatest difficulty however is of course Reform, Is it really as great a threat as feared, if we had a strong middle ground conservative presence?

correct: "big defeat"

A week is a long time in politics
The shadow cabinet doesn’t have any power so no need to be worrying about appointments.

Wyllow3

I certainly think it's fair to say that after a bit defeat that re-grouping cant happen rapidly. I haven't felt its demise was on the way, as its my impression from many posters here they'd like a middle ground Conservative presence in politics.

Their greatest difficulty however is of course Reform, Is it really as great a threat as feared, if we had a strong middle ground conservative presence?

Reform are a one trick pony. They will be a thorn in every government’s side until and unless boat migration is stopped. Once that happens, I think the electorate will lose interest, and turn to other parties, because they don’t have anything else to offer apart from shouting the odds really.

Babs03

I don’t think Kemi had much to choose from. Is slim pickings. Nobody in the Tory party has the gravitas of the Tories that once demanded our attention and sometimes our respect whether we supported the party or not.
Tories like Heseltine, Clarke, Major, Hague, Whitelaw. Grandees who are notable by their absence today. Now the party is reduced to hanging onto the shirt tails of Reform with no real identity anymore.

Spot on!

You're correct - KB was not spoiled for choice.

Analysing what went wrong for the Tories she said that they talked right but governed left - and needed to "stop acting like Labour" to win back power.



I could - might well be - wrong, but I have the distinct feeling that this could be translated as basic Tory trickle-down economics; policies benefitting the wealthy and large corporations which will eventually filter down through... well, you know how it works. Or doesn't.

Same old same old. And, of course, immigration on which matter she feels the Tories "let the British people down".

This phrase always amuses me slightly - "the British people" / the "British public" / and, not forgetting T May's "will of the people".

Politicians always adopt a slight air of reverence when using this terminology - it's as if they have the utmost respect for an homogenous nation of people when, in fact, they are referencing a deeply divided - both economically, culturally and socially - electorate.

I get the distinct impression that it's an attempt to make us feel that we.are.all.being.taken.very.seriously. And I can't rid myself of this nag.

Anyway, she wants less regulation and a small state.

Plus ça change, etc.

They will be a thorn in every government’s side until and unless boat migration is stopped

Well, Reform will prickle along for quite some time then, because neither this government nor any other will get that problem sorted.