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

[allmixedup123]

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

Labour leader is chosen by the party members. They are given a wide choice which is why Corbyn got through.

Tories members are only given a choice of the final two.

Because, reputation can increase or decrease her millions income easily.

Oh @MintJulia no-one wanted to be Lib Dem leader 😂

So they went with the one who had the least chance of being voted out by their local constituents and wasn't going to wind people up.

The party members will chose whichever candidate is most rabidly pro-brexit. Skin colour will matter a lot less than that.

Why discuss skin colour? It simply is not, and should not be, a relevant factor. The fact that there is a diverse mix of credible candidates proves we have moved beyond that.

Well.... only they know but me here praying for someone somewhere to actually give a shit about the morals, working ethics, knowledge, plans and leadership skills of the next candidate, instead of their colour/ hair/ accent or any other irrelevant matter.
And I am getting more than fed up of this colour argument that some people just keep dragging around, like we have been transported 100 years ago all of a sudden or something....

Your vote the last time couldn’t have been for Sajid Javid, as the choice for party members was between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt.

I am right with you on all the rest though (except I am sadly not under 40!)

I've worked at a labour conference, organising delegates at conference centre. Believe me they're not ready for a woman or anyone not of their ilk.

Which means that Labour party members have rejected every woman put before them.

I would have been delighted if Tessa Jowell or Mo Mowlem had been chosen. Either was easily capable of the job. Each was a missed opportunity.

As others have said, you’re wrong to make this a Tory issue - they have a better track record for diversity than the other parties.

I think the country is totally ready for a non-white PM, but maybe not a billionaire. I think that’s what will count against Rishi Sunak, not his ethnicity.

1/10 - try again.

That's funny, as only Boris and Jeremy Hunt were on on the ballot.

You’re right. The Scottish woman. I had completely forgotten about her.

The tories have the lowest % of women MPs at 25%, Labour have 52% and lib dems 69%
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/gender/parliament

I think the party is, the nation however maybe not. A lot of their 'new' voters are the dregs so it might not help them with the next GE

DH and I discuss politics a lot and I will rephrase and say that my preferred candidate for the final ballot would have been Sajid Javid. We got an email from conservative HQ with who got through each round and discussed the candidates accordingly.

In the end the choice was a rock or hard place and I didn’t like either.

I disagree.
Although I think Sajid Javid would be better personally.

He is ex public school boy ( Winchester), privileged, well spoken,very rich, married with children. He is the Tory type.
Colour of skin? irrelevant .
We should be discussing if he can do the job and if being a billionaire means he can understand the people the government is meant to serve

They had a woman in the 80s. I honestly don't think the country gives that much of a shit about their colour tbh. And someone of Sunak's heritage and race would be seen, by many, as more intelligent and suitable than your avg white MP.

The tories have the lowest % of women MPs at 25%, Labour have 52% and lib dems 69%
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/gender/parliament

However the Tories have had 2 female leaders / Prime Ministers. And other than Penny Mordant, appear to know what a woman is. No other party has come near.

My view is that Rishi is just too wealthy to be PM. People like him now and he polls well but with cost of living etc he is just not credible and is vulnerable to attack on this issue by the media and opposition. Brits on the whole do not mind relatively well off posh leaders ( I would argue prefer them in fact) but not stinking rich!

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

I disagree.

The cabinet until a few days ago had some of the most senior posts filled by members of the BAME community (home office, chancellor and health).

I'm not a Tory but frankly the overriding criteria for a leader is someone they think will be a winner in an election.

If Sunak gets to the final two, the concern won't be the colour of his skin but how damaging his wife's previous non dom status was, his partygate fine and the optics of a billionaire being PM during a cost of living crisis.

I also think we will also see Javid and Zahawi put their hats in the ring and I have a hunch the latter might do pretty well - he's a smart guy and very astute.

In terms of diversity I'm betting we will see more than that of those who stood in the last labour leadership election.

What sort of track record for diversity out of interest?

Not that I think colour or ethnicity is much of a marker, its quite a blunt instrument given that the vast majority of the population are white (whether British or not). The real marker for me out of someone (and I wouldnt be involved in the Tory voting anyway) is how much they identify with the average member of the public.

I couldnt name one Tory who has experienced real life and can identify with what its like to have an average income, average life, buying or renting an average house, having their kids at average schools.

Rishi wants to balance the books and so is behind tax rises. As a party member, I'll vote for one who isn't.