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Original poster

Is the Tory Party finished?

49 replies

Westfacing · 28/02/2026 07:36

The Tories lost their deposit on Thursday for the first time ever in a by-election

They seem to be irrelevant right now but I'm not sure they are totally done for!

OP posts:
ArcticSkua · 28/02/2026 07:37

I'm not a Tory voter but I would choose them over Reform so I hope they do make a bit of a comeback.

gamerchick · 28/02/2026 07:38

They're just joining reform aren't they. Same people, different colour of blue.

Notsosweetcaroline · 28/02/2026 07:41

Nah they will out a new leader in. Before the election. People want a safe pair of hands,

they were never going to do well in granton, due to the demographics, it’s a deprived area, This council election is not indicative of who will win an election, other than to tell us Labour is dead. I don’t think they can turn it round, the population doesn’t want hard left, and they don’t really have any one who isn’t who can take over, it’s the onky reason Starmer is still there.

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Octavia64 · 28/02/2026 07:42

Probably not.

but I do see them as being less important than they have been for quite some time.

people don’t vote in the same way at by elections and general elections. At by elections you know that whoever you vote for will not be in government so many people do it as a protest vote.

reform are taking a lot of the right wing protest votes and the people who don’t like reform have voted tactically to keep reform out while not voting for the current government.

it doesn’t mean this will be replicated at a general election - in fact I would be very surprised if it was,

somuchbedding · 28/02/2026 07:42

gamerchick · 28/02/2026 07:38

They're just joining reform aren't they. Same people, different colour of blue.

But it’s a bit odd that Reform full of Tories are labelling themselves as something new!

strawberrybubblegum · 28/02/2026 07:59

I don't think they'll put a new leader in @Notsosweetcaroline . Kemi Badenoch is really, really good.

When you read her policies and responses to what Labour do, she's absolutely spot on - well-thought-out, sensible, true-to-conservative-philosophy ideas.

And she's great in PMQ - if you haven't watched it recently, you should. She absolutely destroys Starmer!

Somehow she hasn't cut through to voters yet. Gorton and Denton was never going to happen for the Conservatives, but even apart from that, many people who might vote Conservative haven't really noticed her.

But there's a huge campaign before a general election, and even people who aren't that interested in politics watch the speeches and think about what the different parties might do. I think that will change things.

TwoProngedFork · 28/02/2026 08:09

strawberrybubblegum · 28/02/2026 07:59

I don't think they'll put a new leader in @Notsosweetcaroline . Kemi Badenoch is really, really good.

When you read her policies and responses to what Labour do, she's absolutely spot on - well-thought-out, sensible, true-to-conservative-philosophy ideas.

And she's great in PMQ - if you haven't watched it recently, you should. She absolutely destroys Starmer!

Somehow she hasn't cut through to voters yet. Gorton and Denton was never going to happen for the Conservatives, but even apart from that, many people who might vote Conservative haven't really noticed her.

But there's a huge campaign before a general election, and even people who aren't that interested in politics watch the speeches and think about what the different parties might do. I think that will change things.

I agree. Kemi has certainly found her feet and has completely redefined what it means to pour one’s feet to the fire. I hope she sticks to her guns and stays the course.

EasternStandard · 28/02/2026 08:14

TwoProngedFork · 28/02/2026 08:09

I agree. Kemi has certainly found her feet and has completely redefined what it means to pour one’s feet to the fire. I hope she sticks to her guns and stays the course.

Show quote history

She likely will. If there’s a leader who might go it’s Starmer.

CharSiu · 28/02/2026 08:24

Gordon and Denton had been Labour for 100 years it was one of the ultimate safe Labour seats.

I doubt Kemi will step down or be ousted, whatever anyone thinks of the Conservatives she actually comes across we’ll and is a great speaker.

MrThorpeHazell · 28/02/2026 09:30

They're down, but not quite out (yet).

The MPs and ex-MPs they have lost to Reform are, let's be honest, total dross that they are well rid of.

They were on the ballot paper last Thursday more as a matter of form than anything else.

They are going through a bad period, but I would not write them off entirely just yet.

user2848502016 · 28/02/2026 10:18

I’ve always been left of centre but the way things are currently the conservatives are the party I’d be most likely to vote for - I quite like Kemi Badenoch

SerendipityJane · 28/02/2026 12:19

Serves them right for Brexit. They were warned at the time it would destroy them.

x2boys · 28/02/2026 12:29

I cant see them winning the next general election, they were decimated in the last one ,but they will be back at some point.

RosesAndHellebores · 28/02/2026 12:37

strawberrybubblegum · 28/02/2026 07:59

I don't think they'll put a new leader in @Notsosweetcaroline . Kemi Badenoch is really, really good.

When you read her policies and responses to what Labour do, she's absolutely spot on - well-thought-out, sensible, true-to-conservative-philosophy ideas.

And she's great in PMQ - if you haven't watched it recently, you should. She absolutely destroys Starmer!

Somehow she hasn't cut through to voters yet. Gorton and Denton was never going to happen for the Conservatives, but even apart from that, many people who might vote Conservative haven't really noticed her.

But there's a huge campaign before a general election, and even people who aren't that interested in politics watch the speeches and think about what the different parties might do. I think that will change things.

100%

RosesAndHellebores · 28/02/2026 12:38

SerendipityJane · 28/02/2026 12:19

Serves them right for Brexit. They were warned at the time it would destroy them.

You do realuse that many many labour supporters voted for Brexit and if they hadn't, it wouldn't have gone through.

Screamingabdabz · 28/02/2026 12:48

I really like Kemi too. I hope she maintains her stance of being moderate, articulate, calm and sensible. I think that will be exactly what the country needs come the GE.

clarrylove · 28/02/2026 12:50

Kemi is great! I'm fully behind her.

SerendipityJane · 28/02/2026 14:27

RosesAndHellebores · 28/02/2026 12:38

You do realuse that many many labour supporters voted for Brexit and if they hadn't, it wouldn't have gone through.

Show quote history

That may not be what I was thinking though.

Papyrophile · 28/02/2026 14:27

Kemi is growing into the role. As she has at least two more years before a general election, she has time to develop policies too. Optimistic that she will rise to the occasion.

TwistedWonder · 28/02/2026 14:30

They’re not in a good place that’s for sure. Kemi is the only party leader I would vote for right now, just a shame her party isn’t il to scratch

Tryagain26 · 28/02/2026 14:31

ArcticSkua · 28/02/2026 07:37

I'm not a Tory voter but I would choose them over Reform so I hope they do make a bit of a comeback.

I agree.
I don't think they are finished, people said the same thing about the Labour Party not to long ago. I also remember the rise of the SDP in the 80s.
But to be honest nothing would surprise me any more.

swimsong · 28/02/2026 14:35

Notsosweetcaroline · 28/02/2026 07:41

Nah they will out a new leader in. Before the election. People want a safe pair of hands,

they were never going to do well in granton, due to the demographics, it’s a deprived area, This council election is not indicative of who will win an election, other than to tell us Labour is dead. I don’t think they can turn it round, the population doesn’t want hard left, and they don’t really have any one who isn’t who can take over, it’s the onky reason Starmer is still there.

You think Starmer is hard left?
Seriously?

Tryagain26 · 28/02/2026 14:42

Screamingabdabz · 28/02/2026 12:48

I really like Kemi too. I hope she maintains her stance of being moderate, articulate, calm and sensible. I think that will be exactly what the country needs come the GE.

She isn't moderate! Her stance on immigration is very similar to Farages , she also wants to repeal the Human Rights Act,.and take us out of EHCR, and she is certainly not calm either she uses inflammatory language regularly. Calling the Labour Party Paedo defenders was disgraceful.
One of the problems the Conservative Party have is they have traditional conservative voters by trying to be like Reform leaving them with nowhere to go.
And I think some people must have been watching a different PMQs to me as i think 4 times out of 5 she is absolutely dreadful

HRTQueen · 28/02/2026 14:43

No

the Tory party are one if not the most successful political party in history because one they absolutely believe they should be in power and the are not tied down to ideology that splits the party

also helps our politics tends to stay fairly central

they are out of power for a while but very likely to be back with 10 years

and I’m pleased they have gained popularity in recent months even as a labour voter

EasternStandard · 28/02/2026 14:45

Tryagain26 · 28/02/2026 14:42

She isn't moderate! Her stance on immigration is very similar to Farages , she also wants to repeal the Human Rights Act,.and take us out of EHCR, and she is certainly not calm either she uses inflammatory language regularly. Calling the Labour Party Paedo defenders was disgraceful.
One of the problems the Conservative Party have is they have traditional conservative voters by trying to be like Reform leaving them with nowhere to go.
And I think some people must have been watching a different PMQs to me as i think 4 times out of 5 she is absolutely dreadful

Edited
Show quote history

Have you ever voted Conservative?

Mahmood’s policies are also for Reform voters. Hence the issues for some Labour MPs.