Boris Johnson has pulled out of leadership race

[feckity]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-36570120

whoever that was, more than likely would have gained the same result!

Sure, but if you decide to lead a campaign, you should be ready to be counted if you succeed.

Seems to be the only time he's bothered pulling out.

We have witnessed an almighty power struggle between the Establishment (Bullingdon, Cameron, the CBI. the Labour Party, the IMF, the unions etc etc) against the people (backed by Dacre and Murdoch and the forces who wanted an independent Britain in the changing world that will come when Trump wins). The Establishment lost, they were routed by a Leave Campaign that was outgunned but not outwitted because they had the majority of the people with them.

There were tears in Number Ten, tantrums in high office, storms in the East on England on voting day, panic in Brussels, because they all know that the British people have started the revolution that may sweep a lot of them away.

Sure, but if you decide to lead a campaign, you should be ready to be counted if you succeed

I agree. But I don't believe in making him the scapegoat for this. I'm appalled at all of them, to be honest. It's a shambles.

Oh, no. I have a long black list. But at least Gove is eager for power volunteering to lead the way.

You do have to wonder whether those putting themselves in the Leadership frame are just a little bit...mad?

Gove didn't want to be leader, he has said it all along. The power approached him and probably begged him to do it for the sake of the country. Gove is a top guy with principles, he has stood in because he is needed to sort out the way forward for the country. The power did not think Boris was up to the job.

That's what I thought tatty. When some people were backing Crabb I thought, oh right, they must want him to be the fall guy for the next section and then their careers won't be affected.

Scathing attack from Michael Heseltine;

“What has Boris Johnson done ? He’s given a veneer of respectability to Nigel Farage’s campaign”

“I have never seen anything like it. He’s ripped the Tory party apart, he as created the greatest constitutional crisis in peacetime in my life,”

“He’s knocked billions off the value of the savings of British people. He’s like a general who marches his army to the sound of the guns and the moment he sees the battleground he abandons it."

“I have never seen anything like it and he must be answerable for the consequences. But the pain of it will be felt by all of us, and if it doesn’t get resolved shortly, by generations yet to come.”

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-leadership-conservative-contest-boris-johnson-betrayal-michael-heseltine-michael-gove-a7111761.html

Gove didn't want to be leader, he has said it all along.

Of course. His self sacrifice has to be admired. The man is nothing but a saint.

Regardless of who wins, anyone who stands up for leadership at least pretends shows that they are ready to serve the country and the party when they desperately need someone to steer the ship.
They may be shitting themselves should they win, but I do think it's a good political move to run now.

Heseltine is yesterday's man and he was that even in Thatcher's time when he was constantly sniping against her. He said just a few weeks ago that we will join the Euro one day. He hasn't got a clue what is happening around him, he is old Establishment and they lost a long time ago.

I would actually take Gove over May because I think Gove screwed up education because he cares so much about it and thinks that only he can save it, unlike the nation as a whole; whereas I think Theresa May has the instincts of a repressive controller. Also I can't help noticing that there is a large chunk of MN and presumably some proportion of the country that thinks Gove's time at education was just the ticket.

HOWEVER, with Gove comes Dominic Cummings. Which means that I'm tempted to join the Tories just to vote against Gove because I think That Man is poison. Though presumably all parties have shut that stable door since The Corbyn Incident [checks: yes].

Pleased to see that claig just about avoided referring to Lord Dacre as a man of the people.

Is there a new Establishment?

It's an awesome speech- especially the 'general' bit.
And that Will stick with him- he'll be known forever (in my house at least) as a coward who has betrayed everyone.
In yer face boris!

Question for Claig: have any of your past political 'predictions' been wrong?

Humour me, I'm curious!

I think some re-writing of history is going on here.

What we do know is that a week ago Johnson had no idea he would be called upon to step up as leader of the conservatives. He expected one of two outcomes:

1. Remain would "win". Ie status quo would prevail
2. Leave would "win" and DC would remain as PM remember he was one of 64 MPs urging DC to remain as premier regardless of the outcome BEFORE the referendum.

I don't want to speculate what has gone on this week. Quite a lot I can imagine, but we don't know, that's the point.

One other point: someone above was sceptical to Andrea Leadsom candidacy on the basis the she supported both free trade and not free labour movement. I just wanted to point out that South Korea have this exactly this with the EU and if they do, why can't we?

I just wanted to point out that South Korea have this exactly this with the EU and if they do, why can't we?
South Korea don't have that. They have "free trade" in the sense that they have an FTA wit the EU, but it's not nearly as good as full access to the Single Market. In particular I believe it doesn't include financial services, or only very partially so.

Reading Claig is exactly like listening to my dad! - Who would call himself a ukip/communist- umm yes, who knew?!

As Cameron led the Remain Tory campaign, it was a challenge to his leadership to lead the opposite campaign. It was naive to think Cameron would happily lead the UK out of the EU, after campaigning to stay, even if without much conviction.

It's not rewriting history to argue that boris is a cowardly cunt. I'm sure even his dad would agree.

I really want to know who this real power is? Who is pulling the strings?

'Is there a new Establishment?'

Yes, it started with Thatcher when she caused a revolution in toppling the old boys' network and making an alliance with Murdoch which challenged the old boys' club. There are tos and fros between them, but this Brexit vote saw the people defeat the Establishment and the victors are the power that backed the people which we see as the Daily Mail, Murdoch etc

'Question for Claig: have any of your past political 'predictions' been wrong?'

One or two have been just wide of the mark

The bookies back May as the favourite. May is a good candidate, and the power would all be happy with her, but my guess is that she will lose (unless Gove just wanted to stop Boris and doesn't want to be leader really) because Murdoch and Dacre will back Gove and therefore he will win.

Just out of interest, what was Thatcher's stance on the EU?