Boris Johnson, parties and the Sue Gray report fall out. Thread 6

[DuncinToffee]

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www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4552700-boris-johnson-fpns-and-sue-gray-report-due-thread-5

We continue

Worth reading this Sunday Times thread

NEW: A new poll puts Labour 20 points clear of the Conservatives in Wakefield and shows that voters are blaming Johnson. Tory internal polling also suggests that a “disastrous” loss is on the cards

twitter.com/thesundaytimes/status/1533146747576406017?s=21&t=-zF6BtSPBryvspNcCrqA8Q

This made me laugh - they are not wrong!

"If there is a contest Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, will present herself as a proto-Thatcherite tax cutter.

Her allies hope that Priti Patel, the home secretary, also runs, as one senior Tory put it, “so she is not the lunatic”

twitter.com/thesundaytimes/status/1533157503588044805?s=21&t=-zF6BtSPBryvspNcCrqA8Q

Apparently Boris is clinging to the belief he can survive because there is no stand-out replacement. Neither Thatcher nor Major were stand-out replacements, but that didn't save their predecessors.

They are waiting in the long grass for now. But there will be quiet words, WhatsApp groups and donors will have been lined up. Just the way Johnson moved when May was "managed out".

Exactly. See also the way Major kept schtum and out of the way whilst his colleagues were all telling Thatcher she couldn't survive.

May was an outsider too I seem to remember.

So Nadine Dorries..

ST is reporting Jeremy Hunt as the favou to succeed him. It also says a source reckons 67 letters have been submitted.

On the no confidence vote:
A former cabinet minister said: “It’s 55 per cent that it happens on Monday or Tuesday. It’s 80 per cent there’s a vote after the two by-elections [on June 23].” Conservative high command is braced for the loss of both Tiverton & Honiton, where the Liberal Democrats are threatening a Tory majority of 24,000, and Wakefield, a “red wall” seat won from Labour in 2019.

Conservative High Command could be doing some expectation management there, so that they can crow if they do manage to retain the seats.

NOOOOOO.
I really would have to emigrate if she took over.

It's all happening then,. I imagine BoosforBoris spooked some of the waverer MPs because when you've lost the Royalist camp out all night brigade, you're fucked

Of course this doesn't include my 1922 committee MP who will back Boris even if he were to moon in the HoC

Polling in Wakefield shows the number one issue as Boris Johnson, which is interesting given the 'sitting' Tory MP has just been found guilty of crimes and imprisoned. That's how low people's opinions of Johnson are.

And me Amaryllis. Bear in mind she is clueless on just about everything and shows herself up with her lack of intelligence, at every opportunity, I imagine it's unlikely.
My nightmare is Patel

From that Twitter link about Liz Truss:

If there is a contest Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, will present herself as a proto-Thatcherite tax cutter.
Her allies hope that Priti Patel, the home secretary, also runs, as one senior Tory put it, “so she is not the lunatic”

Tories, be worried. Be very worried

Oops sorry clicked on the link before seeing you’d already quoted the bit I noticed!
Must read things properly…

I can't see the Tories wanting another woman so soon, so that should protect us from Patel, Mad Nad, Truss and Leasdom (remember her?).

I think the paid up membership is too racist to put up with Sunak. Patel is ruled out again on those grounds.

I think they will want to revert to getting one out of the mould - white, middle aged male, with a pretty wife. I don't know enough about the Tories who fits the bill now.

What about Gove? Although given he was seen partying alone in a nightclub, his odd "calm down" interview and the rumours about his habits, he might be seen as too risky.

Hunt is the front runner I think.

Hunt won't get it as he's too much of a sensible Remainer for the Conservative members.

Ah, I forgot about him being a Remainer.

Being a remainer will be more of a hurdle than his record as Health secretary

He has kept very quiet and when he did speak he came across as sensible.

Gove...... not so much

The Times reporting that Hunt messaged Johnson that now wasn't the time to change PM.

Odd if true - but maybe he recognises many of the problems ahead are going to be tough to overcome especially with the Conservative factions. It's really not possible to please them all.
So better to let Johnson remain (!) a lame duck.

I promise I never do 'i have a friend who knows him, this is the first time EVER on MN to do this but...
He is gay and there are other predilections. This is from someone who knows him. So...very doubtful his career will go further than what it is

(I hasten to add, there's nothing wrong with a gay PM but there's too many skeletons in the cupboard)