To ask...Truss or Sunak?

[LoReNewYork]

It's no surprise that these two are on the final ticket.

I assume Truss will win, which means there'll probably be another leadership election in about a year. She's already announced that she'll 'hit the ground on day one.' The word 'running' would have really helped there.

I think she would be a gift for Labour - Rishi is a far better candidate, despite being an entirely imperfect one.

Whaddyall think?

I think sleazy Sunak is more closely aligned to the values of the current self-serving Tory membership, so on that basis I think he'll win. Either way, I look forward to continuing to watch Starmer wipe the floor with either of them.

Truss has a very worrying grasp of economics- and how inflation works. Which is particularly odd as she has been a Treasury minister

Would really like it if Keir Starmer stood down and Yvette Cooper took his place. I think Starmer would loose to both Sunak and Truss in a General Election

If you are indeed a civil servant, try working on the "civil" bit and while you are at it work also on the "servant" bit. Your attitude typifies why the country is in a mess. You are meant to be politically neutral and carry out your duties in line with the relevant ministerial instructions.

I think Yvette Cooper would be more likely to lose against either of them than Starmer. They need a leader who never misses an opportunity to get their policies across, is untainted by association with the Corbyn era and is articulate and quick witted. Definitely a woman and ideally non white. For me Thangam Debbonaire ticks all those boxes. She’d be amazing.

Don’t be ridiculous @AnotherDayAnotherView. Civil servants and local government officers are allowed to have personal political views and state them on anonymous forums.

I agree with this. I certainly wouldn’t discount someone for the mere fact of being in possession of a lot of money. It’s more subtle than that. Re Starmer, my personal view is that he’s a decent individual who has earned a decent amount of money doing a decent day’s work. I would revise my view if there was any evidence of dishonesty/corruption/hypocrisy/being too out of touch, but I don’t see anything at the moment.

I agree that Keir Starmer will struggle against the new PM as it doesn't alter the fact that people are not that keen on him either
It'll be interesting to watch and I'm sure that the new person won't be as personal as Boris Johnson could be with him, but I still don't think it'll be easy for him to win over those ex Labour voters either. Have to see what happens but the problems the country face are huge and that worries me more.

Boris isn't from a particularly wealthy family - but they're certainly driven. I'm sure I read somewhere that he and his five siblings were all Oxbridge students.

What I don't understand is how LT voted Remain, but then switched into a raving Brexiteer. What happened there?

I have the impression that diplomacy is not her strong point and she's a loose canon when abroad.

She can't be dense though as she got into Oxford from a state school in the 90s (before WP was a thing). But how can you be "ready to seize the opportunities of Brexit" when you didn't even vote for it?

Mind you, I don't think BJ actually believed in Brexit either. It was just his carefully-calculated platform to differentiate himself from Cameron.

They are all career politicians, basically.

I still don't think it'll be easy for him to win over those ex Labour voters either.

Quite honestly if the last two years haven’t won over ex Labour voters, nothing will.

I did read on Mumsnet once that Boris Johnson had a scholarship to Oxford , but not sure if that's true or not. This is the reason why he was so driven as his family were not as rich as some of the others he associated with ? He also complained once that the salary for PM wasn't that great . He will get a pay off of roughly 450,000 k ( again mumsnet information) so this may soften the blow of having to step aside.
He is very competitive.

I just can't believe that Liz "pork markets" Truss is about to become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

highly recommend Michael Spicer's YouTube vids on Liz if you've not seen them. Hilarious

Nooooo I just watched the Michael Spicer thing. It's hilarious and utterly cringeworthy in equal measure. At least we will have our new pork markets to fall back on

She’s also come out and said she will scrap green levies. Doesn’t sound eco conscious to me

Truss is the right wing press’ candidate of choice. The DM in particular have been very clear in their preference. She’s also much further to the right than Sunak.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/conservative-rivals-starting-to-plan-line-up-of-their-first-cabinet-mhjwfb98j

She votes for whatever is politically expedient for her career at the time.

She is Boris Johnson in drag.

You are meant to be politically neutral and carry out your duties in line with the relevant ministerial instructions.

The Civil Service also have a duty to act in the best interests of the country, and advise politicians on evidence-based policy.

Pretty difficult if:

a) they ignore all evidence and insist on destructive policies; then

b) blame those who warned them against such foolish counter-productive policies; then

c) continually cut their pay and trash their value and reputation publicly in the press.

These are hard working, very experienced, very competent professionals with years of experiences and many qualifications and lots of knowledge. Being directed by complete idiots and told they must follow through on policies that will make things worse.

Or course after years or this and continual cuts in conditions and pay and being told they are worthless, of course they are angry.

They are CIVIL servants. They serve the people. Not political parties.

I don’t think she has Johnson’s level of self-belief. I listen to her speaking and she doesn’t sound as if she’s managed to convince herself - there’s no ways she’s going to be able to persuade others.

My job has me in contact with civil servants.

Separately, they have described Truss as
’the worst boss ever’
’unable to lead’
‘confused with no attention to detail’
‘volatile, impatient and blames everyone else around her’

Then I heard on the radio ‘Truss, in her article for the Daily Mail’ - and that finished me off completely.

PM material - absolutely not.

I really don't think the country needs a hedge fund manager as PM, but of the two options, I generally have to opt for competence... and I am certain Liz Truss ain't it. I really hope Tory members are keeping their fingers on the pulse, but sorry . no chance. I might even vote for the grey, concrete bollard to force the issue.

And, no way on earth will I vote for Liz Truss. FFS, I am a fairly loyal Tory. If JRM or Nadine are mooted as Cabinet members, then I would totally withdraw any engagement.

Don't be ridiculous Blossomtoes, if you are unable to distinguish between personal views and civic responsibility there is no hope for you

Competent - try telling that to those individuals who cannot get a passport or a driving test - the Civil Servants are a pox on our democracy