Rory Stewart for P.M.

[HappydaysArehere]

We would actually vote Tory if he was elected. We first noticed him when he made a fascinating programme on Laurence of Arabia but his experience and recognition abroad seems to be little recognised in this country. There is an interesting article in the Guardian today which I would love to have linked but stupidly I don’t know how to do it.
However, am interested in how many of you have noticed him and would support him if given the chance.

[Snowy111]

I’m so glad he’s through. Think it will be a much better debate tonight if nothing else. I’d love him to get that second place. Yes he’s a Tory and has voted for austerity measures in line with Tory policy but he’s a breath of fresh air compared to the others.

[Doobydoo]

Please look at his voting record!

[snowballer]

Doobydoo but who would you vote for from the five left, based on their voting records?

Because let's not forget this is a vote for the next conservative leader, not a general election. Unsurprisingly, they all vote in line with conservative policies.

[Gone2far]

I agree snowy.

[Rory4Leader]

I agree.

[Doobydoo]

I know what you mean Snowy but I am very surprised at how many.people seem to think he is fab...as in I would vote Tory if he were leader etc...it is all exceedingly depressing at the moment across the board.

[Graphista]

@snowballer - several other MPs consider themselves equally impressive - according to their own publicity. Farage fought back to good health after being hit by a car then survived testicular cancer, Cameron made much of supposedly knowing how tough it was having a disabled child while neglecting to acknowledge that for ordinary families the financial costs of this make things much tougher, and then passed policies that made things even harder for such families, Thatcher banged on about being a grocers daughter in an attempt to appear "normal"...

[Snowy111]

I really hope he gets through today after that BBC debacle last night. He’s definitely got the others worried, they all ganged up on him and tried to shut him down.

It was a shame he didn’t get his points across as clearly as in the CH4 debate, but I still feel that he is the only one that talks honestly, he tells the truth rather than what people want to hear, evennif it’s unpopular. Liked his statement about “I’m making promises for the next 15 years not 15 days”

Obviously lost on the thicko that asked the question about tax cuts

[artio0]

Tories support Austerity which is killing thousands and thousands of people, so no, I will never support a Tory. One in 200 people in the UK is homeless now.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/health/tory-austerity-deaths-study-report-people-die-social-care-government-policy-a8057306.html%3famp

Also they're quite consistent with supporting all the wrong things from apartheid to anti-gay stances...

[EleanorReally]

I dont think he will win friends from among the tories themselves.

[AuntieStella]

I'm not sure he does talk honestly.

He's very good at the type of spin where he says variants of 'we all need to grow up,and have a new politics done responsibly'

But he's very light on what he'll actually do

[EleanorReally]

The BBC programme was far too shouty.
Channel 4 seemed more controlled.

[Snowy111]

Now that labour are backing PV properly (but let’s see what they actually say) I think the whole thing of meeting the 31 October deadline will become more difficult. Currently I think fear of farage will make remainer MPs (I.e. most MPs) more persuadable to vote for the WA, but if labour move to PV policy (properly, unlike the previous confused message), the remainers will hold out for that.

Brexit will go on for years! Totally depressing

[OralBElectricToothbrush]

Well so much for that lying spin doctor getting through for PM. He's out.

[beanaseireann]

Rory Stewart's bid for PM didn't last that long.
Yesterday he was, or so we were told, the only one who might hope to compete against Boris.

Do political commentators know anything ?

Im in Ireland and a very well known pol corr was asked about a vacancy in the Irish cabinet. He wasn't sure but it definitely wouldn't be X.
It was X who got the job.

[Snowy111]

OralB I’d be interested to hear what you think of the rest? They're not lying? They’re not spin doctors?

I’m really sad that he’s out but I think the job is still a poisoned chalice to a big extent so he may be better biding his time anyway.

[OralBElectricToothbrush]

They're Tories, Snowy, the people who have systematically punished the sick, the disabled, the poor and working poor for the past 9 years and brought us the Brexit shambles, which has so far cost billions. So I what do I think of the rest of them? Cunt, cunt, cunt, cunt and cunt. And no, I don't vote Labour because I think Corbyn's a lying twat, too, but there's nothing in this entire world that could make me vote Tory.

[Snowy111]

Fair point. I’ve never voted Tory but (sorry!) I thought he seemed a bit different. I think politics has become horribly divisive and he may have had a chance at bringing us back together. Pipe dream probably but he sold it well.

I agree with you about the others especially Boris. They’re running the country for the benefit of their own ilk I think. Except Javid perhaps.

[Snowy111]

And like has been said before, it’s all going to get a hell of a lot worse for the working poor under a no deal Brexit

[HappydaysArehere]

The BBC debate was badly managed. Every time Rory Stewart attempted to put his point of view he was cut off either by opponents or Emily. The whole thing was a general chaotic shambles and the channel 4 debate won hands down.

[KittiKat]

Are you allowed not to vote for someone just because they give you the creeps? He looks and acts like a sullen teenager, in my view.

[Ciara11215]

I used to know him as a good friend dated him years ago. He really is a very good, genuine person.

[Defenbaker]

@HappydaysArehere - totally agree. Boris and Gove seemed to get much more time to speak, and there was a feeling that none of them respected him enough to listen. On occasions the others got quite chummy and were making comments about their common ground, but never once did anyone acknowledge that he spoke sense. I think it was a stitch up.

I know the deal on the table is not great, but I have the feeling that Rory might be right when he says the EU won't offer anything different. He also said that leaving with no deal is not an option because it will never be approved by parliament, so that will just delay things. He was speaking the unpalateable truth, while the others were busy saying anything to impress.

It's such a shame that he wasn't on top form and the others made sure he couldn't be heard. He seems a decent man who would negotiate calmly with the EU, and he implied that the initial deal was just the starting point and there would be many other things to negotiate on. I hope he is given a key role in the government, because he seems to have far more integrity than most politicians.

[OralBElectricToothbrush]

He really is a very good, genuine person.

Yep, who has consistently voted for policies that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people and untold misery for thousands more, outright punitive policies aimed at the most vulnerable in society not to save money but under a false pretext. Sounds like a great guy! I'd hate to see what your idea of a bad one is, Kim Jong-un?

[Defenbaker]

@Ciara - ooh, tell us more! I read a bit about his adventures, and noticed that when he met his future wife, she was already married to someone else at the time. That made me think that he must be quite good at selling himself, because he is not conventionally handsome, but she is quite attractive and he managed to win her over and charm her away. So, maybe he has the quiet determination that is needed for Brexit negotiations.