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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Tory party is not ready for a non-white PM

292 replies

allmixedup123 · 08/07/2022 18:52

While all this talk about Rishi goes on, I just can't see it happening. Too much of the tory party is old english and super duper white

this from an independent headline - The Conservative leadership contest is dominated by white men who've furthered inequality in various departments. The winner will be chosen by a membership who are 71 per cent male, 97 per cent white and 44 per cent aged over 65

OP posts:
TullyApplebottom · 09/07/2022 12:00

AmaryIlis · 09/07/2022 09:30

I think the issue is whether most Conservative party members care. No doubt we'll find out in due course.

all the lefties saying party members won’t go for someone non-white - who do you think selects Tory candidates? Did Rishi et al sneak their local memberships some zopiclone before sliding through the selection process?

ddl1 · 09/07/2022 12:03

PlanetNormal · 08/07/2022 19:04

Given that Labour & the Lib Dems between them have had a grand total of zero women leaders and zero women chancellors, Lefties should probably keep quiet about diversity & representation in politics…

The LibDems did have a woman leader, Jo Swinson.

The current Labour Shadow Chancellor is a woman (Rachel Reeves) as was her predecessor Anneliese Dodds.

But for significant numbers of women leaders in the UK, perhaps one needs to look outside England. The SNP, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, Plaid Cymru, Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party have all recently had women leaders.

I don't think that any party in the UK has had a non-white leader, though the Republic of Ireland had a Prime Minister of Indian descent (also openly gay), as well as two women presidents.

MarshaBradyo · 09/07/2022 12:05

all the lefties saying party members won’t go for someone non-white - who do you think selects Tory candidates? Did Rishi et al sneak their local memberships some zopiclone before sliding through the selection process?

the discord on the left is showing I agree. It’s not great

Blossomtoes · 09/07/2022 12:10

feedyourheed · 09/07/2022 09:21

Can I just add in here that Suella Braverman is exceptionally popular with members and would be chosen by them in a heartbeat, despite, as you put it, being 'non-white'

The polls of Tory membership don’t support that. Conservativehome puts Wallace, Zahawi and Truss well ahead of her - thank Christ. Declaring her intention to run before Johnson had even resigned won’t have done her much good, either.

JaninaDuszejko · 09/07/2022 12:13

Disraeli was Jewish and very much perceived as 'other' in the 19th century but still was one of the most successful MPs so I'm sure in the 21st century the Tories will be able to cope with a brown skinned leader.

Alexandra2001 · 09/07/2022 12:22

MarshaBradyo · 09/07/2022 12:05

all the lefties saying party members won’t go for someone non-white - who do you think selects Tory candidates? Did Rishi et al sneak their local memberships some zopiclone before sliding through the selection process?

the discord on the left is showing I agree. It’s not great

Yet when push came to shove, the party rejected a non white candidate, only Javid making the top 5.

MPs decided to put a known racist & womaniser into no10.

Its not great.

Aside, i do love how the right cannot accept responsibility for their own actions and even as the King of the World is unseated by their own treachery, they seek to divert & blame the left.

Its why this country is in such a mess after 12 years of Tory rule.

TullyApplebottom · 09/07/2022 12:23

MarshaBradyo · 09/07/2022 12:05

all the lefties saying party members won’t go for someone non-white - who do you think selects Tory candidates? Did Rishi et al sneak their local memberships some zopiclone before sliding through the selection process?

the discord on the left is showing I agree. It’s not great

It’s not discord, it’s much nastier. They’re actually hoping the electorate is so racist they won’t go for someone non white. What sort of society is that for minorities to live in? Who cares, as long as they get their way politically.
Truly foul.

feedyourheed · 09/07/2022 12:25

Alexandra2001 · 09/07/2022 12:22

Yet when push came to shove, the party rejected a non white candidate, only Javid making the top 5.

MPs decided to put a known racist & womaniser into no10.

Its not great.

Aside, i do love how the right cannot accept responsibility for their own actions and even as the King of the World is unseated by their own treachery, they seek to divert & blame the left.

Its why this country is in such a mess after 12 years of Tory rule.

But they didn't reject him because of his skin colour! Only the left have an issue with skin colour, gender etc.

Or do you think he should have won based on his skin colour alone? To show how right on they are, even though he wasn't good enough for the job?

HaveringWavering · 09/07/2022 12:26

MsFogi · 08/07/2022 18:56

I think the issue is that the country is not ready for a billionaire PM during a time of economic crisis with millions relying on food banks, most people panicking about energy bills, inflation and interest rate rises.

This.

artisanbread · 09/07/2022 12:26

It’s not discord, it’s much nastier. They’re actually hoping the electorate is so racist they won’t go for someone non white.

I don't think this is the case. I think the wider electorate would be more likely to vote for someone non-white than members of the Conservative Party.

Littleorangeflowers · 09/07/2022 12:26

This is the weirdest post 🤔i mean, not ready? Wdym not ready? Why couldn't RS be PM because of his skin colour and him being non white?!

This is like saying is x party ready for a woman pm? It's basically racist isn't it.

And anyway other parties have mostly had white men haven't they?!

Notonthestairs · 09/07/2022 12:27

I don't have a great deal of time for many current Conservative politicians but I absolutely believe the membership would vote in a non white Leader.

(This is based on my extended family who are all members so perhaps not necessarily a scientific analysis!)

Littleorangeflowers · 09/07/2022 12:28

Aside from that RS cannot surely be made PM because he's the chancellor and we are all financially fucked at the moment.

MarshaBradyo · 09/07/2022 12:28

they seek to divert & blame the left.

Most of the posts struggling with the diversity are coming from the left. It seems a problem in some way

I’m happy to see a diverse candidate race and would love to prove those on the left wrong when they project the idea that people won’t vote for them

I’m glad at least one party holds the view it’s possible. Labour seems behind on this issue

Whether people disagree with their politics or not, as is their
prerogative, I’m glad to see it. Others don’t like it for whatever reason but that’s their issue I don’t really get

Alexandra2001 · 09/07/2022 12:28

JaninaDuszejko · 09/07/2022 12:13

Disraeli was Jewish and very much perceived as 'other' in the 19th century but still was one of the most successful MPs so I'm sure in the 21st century the Tories will be able to cope with a brown skinned leader.

Really? who exactly voted for Disraeli ? either as an MP or party leader.

You do know the voting franchise in the 19thC ?

the ignorance here is breath taking.

MarshaBradyo · 09/07/2022 12:30

It’s not discord, it’s much nastier. They’re actually hoping the electorate is so racist they won’t go for someone non white. What sort of society is that for minorities to live in? Who cares, as long as they get their way politically.
Truly foul.

You’re right it is worse than I posted

feedyourheed · 09/07/2022 12:31

Littleorangeflowers · 09/07/2022 12:26

This is the weirdest post 🤔i mean, not ready? Wdym not ready? Why couldn't RS be PM because of his skin colour and him being non white?!

This is like saying is x party ready for a woman pm? It's basically racist isn't it.

And anyway other parties have mostly had white men haven't they?!

It is racist, yes. And it's only coming from one side. The 'caring' left, as usual.

It is both absurd and offensive to suggest that the tory membership are racists. Too much bitter Guardian tea being drunk for too long if you ask me. The accusations are not reflected in reality at all.

Blossomtoes · 09/07/2022 12:31

Notonthestairs · 09/07/2022 12:27

I don't have a great deal of time for many current Conservative politicians but I absolutely believe the membership would vote in a non white Leader.

(This is based on my extended family who are all members so perhaps not necessarily a scientific analysis!)

Same. The issues with Sunak are his wife’s wealth, his retention of his green card and his refusal to commit to lowering taxes any time soon. Other than that he’s the Tories’ dream candidate.

Alexandra2001 · 09/07/2022 12:35

MarshaBradyo · 09/07/2022 12:28

they seek to divert & blame the left.

Most of the posts struggling with the diversity are coming from the left. It seems a problem in some way

I’m happy to see a diverse candidate race and would love to prove those on the left wrong when they project the idea that people won’t vote for them

I’m glad at least one party holds the view it’s possible. Labour seems behind on this issue

Whether people disagree with their politics or not, as is their
prerogative, I’m glad to see it. Others don’t like it for whatever reason but that’s their issue I don’t really get

Don't understand your POV, Labour has far more ethnic diversity and woman MPs than any other party, a teenage mum as deputy, a Asian London mayor.... and isn't ridden with Etonians.

BUT this thread isn't about "lefties" or about Labour, its about your party your next leader and how you will vote.... & please spare us the "i'm a floating voter" you are not, anymore than i am.

Tory membership is predominately male, south of england 44% over 65 and lacks diversity.

fwiw they will vote on brexit credentials NOT skin colour (if given a vote) which i doubt will happen.

Notonthestairs · 09/07/2022 12:36

Agree Blossom. JRM is very busy at the moment decrying Sunak's legacy as Chancellor - I'm wondering how much damage he will do to Sunak's chances with the membership.

Alexandra2001 · 09/07/2022 12:39

In 2019...... The Conservative leadership contest is dominated by white men who've furthered inequality in various departments. The winner will be chosen by a membership who are 71 per cent male, 97 per cent white and 44 per cent aged over 65

How much has improved since then?

Wallace wont stand, one less that i would have supported, decent man.

KarmaStar · 09/07/2022 12:40

Rubbish.why are you stirring up the pot?🙄

MarshaBradyo · 09/07/2022 12:40

Alexandra please spare me the idea you know me and how I vote

I will not engage with your posts they seem obsessive. I’m sure you have good points to make but they are too personal so I’ll leave you too it

Notonthestairs · 09/07/2022 12:41

I heard on the Radio yesterday that Wallace wants to lead NATO so hopefully he's got that planned out. He'd be great at that.

TullyApplebottom · 09/07/2022 12:42

artisanbread · 09/07/2022 12:26

It’s not discord, it’s much nastier. They’re actually hoping the electorate is so racist they won’t go for someone non white.

I don't think this is the case. I think the wider electorate would be more likely to vote for someone non-white than members of the Conservative Party.

there are people on this thread hoping that the electorate is so racist that selecting a non white candidate means the tories will lose.
if racism bothers you, and it should, take a look at your fellow travellers before making assumptions about the Tory party. You could be in for a nasty surprise.