No idea Rory Stewart had such a cool backstory

[Figmentofmyimagination]

Have a look at these links from 15-20 years ago - wish he was my mp - and I don’t even vote conservative.

www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/books/review/11cover_bissel.html

www.lrb.co.uk/v23/n17/rory-stewart/diary?utm_source=LRB+icymi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20190616+icymi&utm_content=ukrw_subs_icymi (This is subscriber only but you get one free article I think - extraordinary writing).

Get behind that Hunt who says Trump was right to join Katie Hopkins in insulting Sadiq Khan? The Hunt who privatised huge swathes of the NHS? The Hunt preening his negotiation skills and citing his handling of the junior doctors’ contract as evidence? Is that the Hunt we’re supposed to get behind? I suggest you get real.

also I am going to the hustings, and I am voting for Boris Johnson. I believe has what it takes, and will give it all his got. I think he can win elections, and eventually bring everyone back to the table.
We need a strong, charismatic leader and that is Boris Johnson.

Dear God.

I agree that Rory is problematic. He is a remainer and we have already had a few years of that with May. We need an arch leaver (i.e. Boris) who can get us out of the EU. This country voted to leave. If Boris fails the Tories will be annihilated.

37% of the electorate voted to leave. That isn’t “the country”.

Jesus Christ
Boris Johnson is IN NO WAY a safe pair of hands or a candidate likely to persuade swing voters back to the Tories, though he would pick up Brexit party votes I suppose. I live in the North and know if not one person who thinks he is competent, amusing or anything other than a terrifying proposition. He shows zero interest in anything outside London and the South East. If he ever wins an election it will only be because of Labour having the bloody Corbyn albatross round their necks.

Boris is an arrogant buffoon

where is he when the rest of them are being interviewed?
It is his ploy, to remain tight lipped.

Boris isn't an arch leaver. He isn't an arch anything. He wouldn't know a principle if it came up and bopped him on the head. Boris is only in anything at any time for the benefit of team Boris. Fools.

I think its a foregone conclusion that Boris will get into the last 2, and if that happens against Rory Stewart, then I think the Tory membership will vote Boris through. Then we are stuck with him until the next election and maybe beyond, unless Labour sort themselves out which, at the moment, looks unlikely. Our only hope is that he makes such a monumental cock up that he ends up disappearing for good. This seems likely.

I have no dog in this fight. But it's not just the Tories who have "killed" people. Labour just did it abroad. Robin Cook of blessed memory was IMHO the only cabinet minister who stood out against it.

Absolutely true, Crosstalk. Robin Cook of blessed memory was the biggest loss the Labour Party has had since John Smith died too young. I try to be as critical of the Labour Party of which I'm a member, as I am the Tories.

I will start listening to them the day they hold their hands up and admit that austerity and their targeted policy of destroying public services has killed people. Until then they can literally fuck off.

How about you, and some of the other PPs on this thread, fuck off yourselves? I am sick to death of this moronic lie about austerity being a policy of deliberately killing people. We haven't even had 'austerity', as the state is still spending more than it takes in. Nasty little Corbynites who think they can accuse their political opponents of killing people with impunity are the lowest of the low.

surely what matters in a leader is their policies, their ideas and their actual plan for Brexit - be as 'strong' (physically? Emotionally? or do you mean just good at shouting bollox) and charismatic (?really?) as you like but if you have zero ability to negotiate, be diplomatic, understand peoples points of view and behave with respect and dignity you are not the right person for the job!

It is incredible how labour supporters still do not realise that the labour government left us in financial dire straits, and when the crash happened in 2008 our country was very nearly ruined.

It is amazing how many on here have the memory of a goldfish.

If we have suffered cutbacks it is because we were over spending on a massive scale for decades. The waste, the billions and billions that were wasted. The reasonable cuts were very long overdue.

If you want to get behind Corbyn and take us back to the bankrupt Britain and black outs of the 1970s that is your look out, but I am old enough to remember it the first time around, and it was hell for everyone. The very fact that you can even consider it shows you did not live through it. Lets hope to God you don't own a single anything beyond a pet rabbit, because that will be state owned as well within six months of Captain Corbyn taking the reins.

I read Rory Stewart's books shortly after they were published and long before he became an MP. He didn't just walk across Iran, etc., he was appointed Governor of a province and worked to unite warring factions in a highly dangerous area. He then set up a charitable foundation to carry out work in the area. He comes from a slightly privileged background, but not necessarily more so than the many people from quite ordinary backgrounds who get gifted a large inheritance sufficient to buy a house outright. I do think his experience is more relevant to politics than many politicians, including Gordon Brown, whose only paid employment prior to entering politics was as a year as a part time lecturer in social policy at Paisley College of Further Education and a short stint as an STV journalist, or indeed my own MP, who was an undergraduate when he entered politics and has done different since.

I think we need people in politics in this country who are not afraid of being accused of not doing anything interesting in their lives. Since when did gaining experience of other cultures and pushing your boundaries become a negative thing and something to be criticised?

What does worry me about Rory however is that he might stick us in the no-progress zone as did Teresa May, however I am impressed with his ability to reconcile opposing factions and his oratory skills as a politician, and I think he would represent this country well.

odd how you are trying to turn this into a debate about Labour - have you run out of ways to big up Bozo the twat so quickly

slightly privileged He went to Dragon, Eton and Oxford. Hardly a slight privilege.

stick us in the no-progress zone Yup we will be there indefinitely until the Brexit Party win a land slide.

reconcile opposing factions I have not seen any evidence whatsoever of his ability to do this, this is truly for the fairies. He has not the faintest idea how to take us out of the EU, and only desires to overturn the result.

I think he would represent this country well He will be an even bigger embarrassment than Theresa May. He looks like Dobby, he will be a Dobby, and the panto caricature of an English Prime Minister will be complete. Absolutely not a hells chance will he ever make a good ambassador for this country.

Meet Dobb, Rory's inspiration:

www.pottermore.com/explore-the-story/dobby

Apparently he delivered one of his children himself!

He's actually Scottish, just so posh you can't tell.

ghosty I was simply answering another post. It was slightly more captivating than your Boris Bashing. Boris Johnson of course will make a wonderful leader, and I will vote for him shortly.

I find him credible, honest and intelligent. He made a fantastic mayor here in London, he really got behind London and the UK and did wonders for business and investment. Unlike Khan it has to be said. I have no doubt Johnson will do the same as PM, and we will finally ger some true leadership and optimism back.

He comes from a slightly privileged background, but not necessarily more so than the many people from quite ordinary backgrounds who get gifted a large inheritance sufficient to buy a house outright.

I would consider myself 'slightly privileged' and was able to buy my small apartment outright with the help of my parents.

However, I would never compare myself to someone like Rory Stewart, who had the most expensive education money can buy from the time he was a young child. He is not slightly privileged. He is a member of the elite, just shy of the aristocracy.

If you want to get behind Corbyn and take us back to the bankrupt Britain and black outs of the 1970s

That was the Heath government. They were conservative

Educate yourself

The very fact that you can even consider it shows you did not live through it.

Oh the irony

LittleKittyStops I think he would represent this country well He will be an even bigger embarrassment than Theresa May. He looks like Dobby, he will be a Dobby, and the panto caricature of an English Prime Minister will be complete. Absolutely not a hells chance will he ever make a good ambassador for this country.

Meet Dobb, Rory's inspiration:

www.pottermore.com/explore-the-story/dobby

I wasn't aware that we chose politicians based on looks, but how juvenile to pick on a candidate based on their appearance.

He was extremely attractive when he's younger, now he looks gaunt, but maybe we are just used to out of shape politicians?

But if we are going to select on looks, then are there any candidates at all worthy of your vote?

Just I think you are the one that should educate yourself.

Harold Wilson was a LABOUR leader, and on his watch the country sank and was bailed out by the IMF!!

It was an absolute disaster, the country buckled under the weight of the financial crash and the miners strikes organised by none other than the Labour unions. It took labour decades to recover.

Apparently he delivered one of his children himself!

I read that but it wasn't clear if the ambulance didn't arrive or they free birthed it on the kitchen table