Teresa May or Andrea Leadsom?

[Toofondofcake]

So without starting anything too politically fraught I wonder if people would share with me who they prefer for conservative leadership out of the two.

The race is now down to them and so we will have a female PM again!

Opinions?

If Terry May gets the PM job, then the Referendum result will be wasted. She an Establishment careerist, politically correct, and is a female Cameron. She will put EU first in exit negotiations. She has said that she wont invoke Article 50 until next year. She is very experienced at the high end of politics, but essentially she is a Remainer and capitulator to all sorts of hostile forces within our country.

LEADSOM is not PC, she has said she would make positive discrimination illegal (good, because it's unfair), she would invoke A50 now and do away with the Human Rights Act, or some of it.

But she wasn't.

She was the one who brought May into it. She didn't need to comment on the fact that TM doesn't have children, she could have said something about policies and some such, she's the one who made it personal.

*Peter Norris, chairman of Barings and now chair of Virgin Money, has to say about her. He never even remembered her involvement with Barings so she clearly didn't leave a lasting impression! "

NAOMI, has it occurred to you that Norris might be using the old 'damn them by feint praise' routine - or in this case, no praise at all, because he' s a Remainer? One of the best putdowns is either not to remember someone, or to deliberately get their name wrong.

She genuinely believes she's a superior person and professional because she has children.

she has said she would make positive discrimination illegal (good, because it's unfair)

Yes, it really is unfair.

And it massively distorts the quality of people at the top of organisations.

There are far too many mediocre white men in positions they have only gained due to the positive discrimination they have enjoyed for centuries.

Time to put a stop to it.

"LEADSOM is not PC, she has said she would make positive discrimination illegal (good, because it's unfair), she would invoke A50 now and do away with the Human Rights Act, or some of it."

Talk to me about the unfair positive discrimination that goes on, and the bits of the Human Rights Act you want done away with?

'If Terry May gets the PM job, then the Referendum result will be wasted. She an Establishment careerist, politically correct, and is a female Cameron.'

Exactly. That might be the most popular outcome though for the remainers.

I may not agree with all Leadsom's opinions but yes she's not politically correct at all, and I prefer someone who is transparent and who will get the job done.

Don't have a clue what May's opinion is anything. She's politically correct is all I know.

Don't have a clue on what May's opinion is on anything. I just see political correctness and that's all.

*Article 8 of the ECHR (right to a family life) .

ThereMustBeaCatch. People can fall in love with whoever they want to. And if they are in love with someone from outside of the EU (which is what I think you are saying) it's absurd to say that they are prevented from having a family life - just not here. If a UK woman has fallen for someone who has no papers, then there's nothing stopping her relocating to his homeland and having a family life there with him.

Murdoch journalism at it's lowest if you ask me.

Well not really.

A journalist job is to get to the heart of the matter and to try and uncover the real 'truth'.

It is true the journalist asked a question that was leading, but on the other hand it was a question that was very fair and very predictable. Leadsom made a huge deal out of being a Mum during the EU ref so she obviously did think that gives her a certain edge and life skill.

The fact that Leadsom walked straight into that question shows her naivety. That is not someone you want a negotiation table of this magnitude. She was blind sided by something that she should have seen coming. Something predictable. It is therefore a weakness.

She also despite caveting it then carried on saying the very thing she didn't want it to be about and the very thing she thought was horrible. That lack of awareness is also not a good trait in a negotiator.

I personally don't think her actual comments will harm her. She effectively said paraphrasing 'I don't want it to be about Andrea having children, Theresa hasn't but I think this makes me the better candidate as I have a better stake in the future'. It is the mum equivalent of 'I'm not a racist but'.

It will play well to people who want to see Leadsom as some sort of victim of political correctness and to people who see the traditional family structure as the core to society - conservative values. It probably will win her votes.

I think the argument will rage for a while and what she said. That for me is not the really telling part though. I personally don't think it was particularly twisted, and I do think it was a fair quote' For me, its the unpreparedness and lack of experience that shines through that has created the situation and row in the first place.

Even if you like Leadsom, you should ask some questions about the way she went into that interview and its implications for the negotiating table. It is not a good reflection. However much you hate Murdoch journalists, being able to deal with them effectively, is a good measure of whether you are going to be able to hack the position of PM or not. She's clearly failed at the first test of that.

And what do you mean by "political correctness"?

Seems like we are being astro-turfed with the idea that

a May is "politically correct"

b political correctness is disgusting

The major thing abut Leadsom that I am disquieted about is that she supports fox hunting. By definition that means hunting with dogs of other animals as well (such as stag). That's reprehensible and must never be allowed to return. Some Hunts are breaching legislation - afterall, who is out there to see what they're up to. Recently there was an exposé on that old favourite of killing mother fox, taking her cubs, keeping them in a barn and then throwing them to the young hounds to practice on.

And what do you mean by "political correctness"?

I think it is defined as the right to say something offensive, and get away with it without criticism because you can justify it with some bullshit excuse.

Fair point RedToothbrush.

Yes, she's only been at this about a week and she will need to wise up and be able to deal with difficult negotiations as a PM (and Murdoch's journalists and the leading questions). So, may need further training in this area.

In Leadsom's case, not being politically correct seems to mean being quite happy to express loathsome views. But the views she does express make me wonder what even more extreme views she is keeping quiet about. Accepting money from a BNP member- even an ex BNP member- is very worrying.

Having done a bit of research, it's May for me.
And I have to say I am thrilled at the prospect of another female PM. It's the silver lining to the Brexit cloud for me.
It IS disappointing that the only time the women get a look in is at this 'poison chalice' moment, but I feel hopeful that May will provide a fresh approach, EU friendly, will have a bond with Angela M and Hilary C (fingers crossed she wins). I don't know, I have fresh hope.
I've got my rose tinted specs on perhaps.

RedTooth Leadsom has not had the media training (that senior politicians undergo) and she did make a faux pas. I've made them too due to nervousness. She will learn from it, and her error does not mean she is not the more suitable of the two for the main job. She will now be very conscious of words she used when interviewed. She has had a swift learning experience.

'The major thing abut Leadsom that I am disquieted about is that she supports fox hunting.'

Yes that bothers me as well.

I refuse to support Leadsom because she wants supports fox hunting, she is from my area and went to a local school, I am appalled at her stance on this. It still goes on, the police do little about it and needs stronger enforcement not backing from the ignorant.

Inkanta the question then becomes CAN she brush up enough on these skills in the short time before she might become PM. Can we afford the risk that she might not be as good at it as others at this moment in time?

I think the learning curve is incredibly steep, even if you credit her with the ability to be able to do it. Its the timeframe that's the issue.

Nope. Some views are just loathesome. Being opposed to gay marriage, gay adoption and supporting fox hunting. To name but 3.

And at TGGS being a "local school"!