Westministenders: Hustings and Humilation

[RedToothBrush]

Round 1 has passed.
Boris is winning. But these are the Tories. Surprises might yet happen.

But the chances are the lying buffon is full speed ahead to be the next PM. As long as he manages to keep his mouth shut.

Unfortunately being Prime Minister involves talking. This might prove to be something that bursts the BorisMania rather rapidly.

A GE is still very much on the cards.

And we might face the Constitutional and undemocratic shutting down of parliament to satisfy the Tory Faithless.

Meanwhile the EU couldn't give less shits. They just think we are wasting the time we were granted in good faith.

31st October beckons with No Deal.

Andy Burnham

Jess Phillips would be a decent leader!
Or Keir Starmer.
J C is just a thorn in labours side at the moment. Nice man I'm sure but not right at this time to lead the opposition.

Probably Yvette Cooper.

Pinch of salt time

Lord Ashcroft focus group and recognition / perceptions of the leadership candidates.

lordashcroftpolls.com/2019/06/what-my-focus-groups-of-wavering-tory-voters-said-about-the-leadership-race/

This is an interesting exploration on the importance of personality and branding (and complete absence of interest in policy).

His conclusion is Johnson, Javid and Hunt were the strongest on this score but Stewart was also doing very well.

Poor Gove, Raab and Hancock don't do well.

The stand out line of the article is: “If you whacked him with a cold salmon he’d fall over”. I mean, whats going on in the head of someone, who comes out with that as a reaction to a public figure!!!

And I almost think its a planted quote which will get repeated and will stick in people's minds...

Pmk

Yvette Cooper

Nicola Sturgeon

Surely we're long past the stage when everyone who mentioned J Corbyn had to say that they were sure he was a nice man?
I never thought he was a nice man. And his bringing down both his party and his country proves me right. A nasty ideologue.

I was going to say Nicola Sturgeon! And I’m not Scottish or living in Scotland

Yvette Cooper is one of the few who comes out of this Brexshit looking good - intelligent, hardworking and courageous. So her for Labour leader.

Stewart is definitely playing the longer game for PM post no-deal/revoke.

I can't understand people believing that Boris might revoke. Pure pie in sky.

“They need to deliver Brexit and get on with running the country. For three years they haven’t done anything with the country and it’s going to crap.”

Top quote from the focus groups.

Also all the Gove hate fair cheered me up. Backstabbing ugly smackhead who ruined the education system seems to be the verdict. Surprised not more memory of Hunt as Health Secretary.

The thing about the Tories running the country is that when they do it they make it worse rather than better.

I can't think of anyone at present who would make an effective leader of any party. I don't think it's possible to lead either the Conservative or Labour parties. There's no Lib Dem who impresses me. Even with one remit over the last three years - to oppose Brexit - they've consistently fallen down on the job. (Vince has been okay, if subdued.) Caroline Lucas is always good but the Greens are a small party and I don't know how she'd do in a larger party - and she's no longer leader.

Oh yes, forgot Nicola. Head and shoulders above the rest.

They were Tory focus groups? They didn't seem to know very much at all about the leadership election or the candidates!

{Vince has been okay, if subdued.}
He, and maybe Kenneth Clarke and a couple of the other 'oldies' probably would have the depth of foresight to make a decent job, but without wishing to be ageist why would they want to engage in what is going to be a very complicated and unpleasant fight in the very near future. There is a lot at stake and it is difficult to see anyone having the gravitas to unravel the unholy mess the UK has would itself into.
Supporting revoke which is clearly the 'best' outcome given the way the world works now will be howled down by the Brexiteers who strangely, despite 3 years to think about it, still haven't managed to show how the economics of the UK might work when it leaves.

would=wound

Chukka email, apologies if already posters:

‘Like 20,000 others in the last month, I am delighted to have joined the Liberal Democrats.

I have been overwhelmed by the positive response I have already received from existing members, and really want to thank everyone for their warm welcome.

I have known Vince Cable for almost a decade. Vince and I share very similar, liberal, social democratic values and it is those values which have driven my decision to join the team.

Even in the difficult coalition years there was more that united us than divided us. In the last three years, we have made common cause on Europe, working together for a People’s Vote and securing a delay to Brexit.

After leaving Labour, I had thought that Britain needed a new party and I believed that was what the millions of politically homeless people in Britain wanted.

I was wrong.

The local and European elections showed that people are ready to get behind the most consistent, credible, leading pro-European force in British politics. That’s the Liberal Democrats.

My own Streatham constituency voted more strongly to Remain than any other, and on May 23rd this year, Liberal Democrats topped the poll there.

I feel I can now represent my values and my community best by joining with you in the fight against Brexit, for a new politics and a fairer society.

And I want you to help grow the Liberal Democrats. I know there are millions of people out there who want to stop Brexit and share liberal, social democratic values. Will you ask them to join the Liberal Democrats today? libdems.org.uk/ask-to-join

I look forward to working together, and meeting many of you, in the coming months.

With best wishes,

Chuka

Chuka Umunna MP
Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Streatham ’

Not a fan of Nicola.

I think Nicola is the best by a long, long way.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/9293472/boris-johnson-tory-leadership-election-stop-bojo-plot/
BOJO OR NO GO? Matt Hancock quits race to be next PM – will he back BoJo or join the Stop Boris gang?

Apparently he's trying to decide between backing Johnson or Gove.

Yvette or Nicola.