Pick a Prime Minister

[Jourdain11]

Since it seems to be the widely-held view that Boris Johnson hasn't done a great job of handling this crisis, which recent (last 30 years) former PM do you think would have done the best?

Margaret Thatcher
John Major
Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
David Cameron
Theresa May

Throw in the LOTOs for good measure:

Jeremy Corbyn
Ed Miliband
(David Cameron)
Michael Howard
Ian Duncan Smith
William Hague
(Tony Blair)
John Smith
Neil Kinnock

Throw in Ken Clarke for good measure, since he was almost LOTO twice and held two of the Great Offices of State.

I am genuinely curious as to what people think! My guess would be Blair or Thatcher. Not sure if I could cope with the gushy Blair speeches every day, personally, though.

P.S. sorry if I've missed anyone out.

Gordon Brown.

Gordon Brown

John Smith.

I can’t see Keir Starmer.

It's a bit worrying, seeing that lot in a list!

@Unshriven

Gordon Brown.

Interesting! He would be my pick too. Even though he'd be really grumpy and control-freaky, I think he'd take time to get to grips with all the advice and try to make the best decisions.

Cameron too populist / lightweight. May too intransigent ("lockdown means lockdown" - "my plan is the best plan, it is the only plan"). And I only lived in the UK for 1 year of Blair's premiership (the last).

I'd stick with Boris.

Another vote for Gordon Brown here! He was the right amount of boring, sensible and steady. He always reminded me of my geography professor.

Apparently before he became Shadow Chancellor, he was a dazzling and witty speaker!

(Btw, if Boris can go on the list then I guess Starmer should be there too. I'm not including acting LOTOs though - so no Harriet Harman or Margaret Beckett, even though it means the list is very male-dominated...)

Gordon or Ed.
3rd choice Cameron. Not a Tory but i MUCH preferred him to Boris.

John Smith, by a country mile.

Gordon Brown

Second choice would be Neil Kinnock

Interesting proposition. What about Thatcher? Chemist, focus on individual responsibility, female (does that make a difference? Who knows).

Thatcher, because of her background as a trained scientist. She study chemistry at Oxford.

Gordon Brown

Any of the first four in your top list, plus John Smith and Ken Clarke.

I absolutely detested Thatcher but she’d have been perfect in a pandemic.

There has been some interesting discussions around woman being better in these types of situations.

It was actually concluded in the end it wasn't a woman as such but more having the characteristics stereotypically a signed to females.

I'm not sure empathy was one of Maggie thatchers top qualities

Brown?! Short memories of how he handled crises.

I’d go Thatcher. Lockdowns have worked well in more authoritarian states. I live in the Middle East, and the treatment, rules and testing have been great.

@hollieberrie

I had the same thought recently that I would much rather have Cameron again than BJ

What about if we didn't have Boris leading this current Tory party?

Which current Tory MP would you have running the country and which do you think would be as much as a nightmare!

John Major for me. Really underrated in my opinion.

Thatcher

I detested Thatcher but in a crisis can’t think of anyone better. She wouldn’t have put up with idiots breaking the lockdown that’s for sure.

Blair. Smith.

Or - let's face it - anyone over the lying incompetent shit shower in the current cabinet.