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

He is another entitled rich privileged man who hasn't any idea how people live in the real world.
He would probably be a better leader than Boris Johnson, but I think that connecting with ordinary people might be hard for him on many levels.

Totally agree with @Sarahcoggles , Sunak makes my blood run cold. We’re all in deep shit if he becomes PM. There’s nothing behind the eyes that gives even the faintest glimmer of understanding about what hardship means for millions in this country. He’s purely about making those numbers stack up. We’re fucked

I’ve actually scared myself now writing that because I think he’ll get the job

Shitballs

Well, I alway thought the point about the Conservatives was that they tried to enable people to control their own lives, at least when I first voted several decades ago.
I am for as little "government" intervention as possible. Surely people react better when not micro-managed?
Create a framework and a safety-net and let people lead their own lives.

Though Tories undoubtedly come with a reputation for racism for a reason, I do agree their main concern nowadays is classism.

We are fucked if he gets it because he simply hasn't a clue
His wife brought tea for the press yesterday in mugs that were 35 pounds each. The cheap mugs.
Nice of her, but honestly ..

Dehenna Davison?

Disagree. Sunak, Javid, Zahawi all reasonable contenders. Shitty people but no reason why in 2022, they can't lead a political party.
Where's Labour woman leader. Their treatment of Rosie Duffield tells you all you need to know about Labour and women.

Despite being very attractive, I don’t want a billionaire rule breaker for PM. I’d prefer Someone with integrity, a normal working or middle class background, personal experience of supporting vulnerable groups/family and a sound business head, able to strengthen social care and the nhs rather then privatise.

No more rich boys from rich backgrounds with minimal real life experience.

Exactly

Spaffing billions on wasteful Covid measures such as eat out to help out and bounce back loans springs to mind.

Plus he only resigned when Sajid Javid resigned because Javid would be a strong contender for PM. Javid resigned on principle and has form for integrity whereas Sunak only resigned for the opportunity to become PM.

My preference would be for a new election but out of the Tories Tom Tugendhat or Sajid Javid. Still if Sunak doesn't get the top job there will be some who will say it's because of his skin colour rather being an opportunistic financial liability.

Is that you Jolyon?

err perhaps you right wing types should check a few facts first?

Labour have twice as many non white MPs than the Tories, proportionately far more as they got less MPs (intake 2019)

Considering the the two women leaders the Tories had were either v divisive or ineffective, its a not a proud record.

Personally, neither colour or sex should matter but the OP is correct, my cousin is a leading Tory member and she thinks non whites shouldn't even be MPs as they are not english, she also loves Boris.

Well Ive never heard of him but now you mention it, there was one that was the subject of a row with that Jack Monroe, apparently he had worked for the mines prior to being an MP and I think grew up in poverty so has some experience of life, god knows how people like that get attracted to a political party which doesnt really protect the vulnerable but there you go.

I think whats missing and what is such a shame, and I speak as a non tory, is that years ago the tories were 'one nation tories; they had a sense of obligation and duty to the whole nation, but at the same time believed in small government, personal improvement, nothing wrong with that but they also seemed to have a recognition that the policies had to fit for the whole nation. Its remarkable that this was also at a time when class division was much more marked and visible.

its gone the other way, our class system is less defined, less fixed, more mobile but the government of the 'middle class' has become more separated from society

@TwentyOneTwentyTwo

Ha. Knew there would be one 🎣

Definitely not the case. I can 1000% see race, I'm not blind to it. It had just never clicked IN THIS ONE PERSON'S CASE to me. There has been a handful of times where I've turned around and went "oh yeah" and not initially realised (clearly because it hasn't mattered), this is one of them.

I'm not "woke" and I don't sit and believe that I "don't see race". I was talking about this one specific situation and how it was peculiar that I hadn't consciously noticed.

Many new tories are racist, the ones who turned to the party to 'get brexshit done' definitely are

I should just clarify, I dont think that people in government have to have experienced poverty, the vast majority of the population dont live in poverty but we are more just muddling along, just about ticking along, some are ticking along nicely but still within an average range

Most people in the tory party in government have been privately educated, with 'non jobs' as I call them, they havent really worked in the general world of work without being found a job for them, havent needed to navigate the world of working your way up, making a name for yourself through talent. A lot are unbelievably thick, quite shockingly so.

Considering the the two women leaders the Tories had were either v divisive or ineffective, its a not a proud record.

Ah yes. Wrong sort of woman.

My husband, he isn't white, thinks this. I think he will be very shocked if it happens.

Personally, neither colour or sex should matter but the OP is correct, my cousin is a leading Tory member and she thinks non whites shouldn't even be MPs as they are not english, she also loves Boris.

Yes, I agree with you there and exact same experience. Father, 83 quite a full on racist, ex ukip voter and also loved Boris.

This.

While Labour tie themselves round the maypole in an ever decreasing dance of identity politics circles , with very little to actually show for it, The Tories get on and vote for whoever best delivers their self interest.

Look at the policies and behaviour of P Patel. Straight up the xenophobes street.

Why should any party appoint a female leader? surely, these things should be done on merit?
Labour have far more women MPs than the Cons.... who also have a shocking record on taking sexual assault allegations seriously.

Nedawank Zahawi also went to a sex party, told everyone he left when he realised what it was... trouble is he went twice.... perhaps he "forgot"

Richest Sunak, is a tax dodger, Savage Javid made his money selling dodgy Mexican bonds.

The membership is generally elderly (apparently the party receives more from them in legacies than donations) so I'd say they, many of them, wouldn't like a leader of say Asian heritage. They are much more far right and illiberal than the country at large. It think it could bcertainly be an issue.

Are women deserving of such a role just because they’re women? Should they be excused from doing a shit job because they’re women?

Although, in my lifetime (and I’m only 51) the Conservatives have had more non-privately educated leaders than the Labour Party so I don’t think that stack up either. It’s ironic that they are more liberal and tolerant than the Labour Party when it comes to sex, background or colour of those in senior positions. They’ve a little work to do on sexuality to be fair ;)

I disagree. I think Sunak, Javid and Zahawi all have a chance.

I also think that even if none of them succeed this time, this country's eventual first non-white PM is going to be a Tory, not Labour. I'm sure there are some racist Tories, but they're like the sexist Tories - a minority within the party. For most, if they support the candidate's politics, race doesn't matter.