Rory Stewart for Prime Minister

[Beneficentbovine88]

I know he's recently left politics to teach at Yale but I heard him speak about the Russia - Ukraine conflict on BBC international news this morning and he spoke with such intelligence and integrity that it reminded me what it would be like to have an intelligent, competent, responsible, honest, realistic person in charge rather than the current shambles. I know everyone is waiting to see whether BJ will have his Churchill moment given the current crisis but surely one of the hallmarks of a good leader is trustworthiness?

Just to be clear, I have no political affiliations at all any more. Just generally disillusioned.

Ah well, it's just me then!

I have never voted Tory in my life, but have a lot of time for Rory Stewart. Intelligent, informed centrist with a huge amount of international experience used to be a spy. Would genuinely consider voting Tory if he were leader of the party.

@BirdIsland

I have never voted Tory in my life, but have a lot of time for Rory Stewart. Intelligent, informed centrist with a huge amount of international experience used to be a spy. Would genuinely consider voting Tory if he were leader of the party.

I have never and would never vote Tory but I also have a lot of time for him, such a shame he didnt become leader instead of Boris during that leadership challenge.

He reminds me of the old one nation Tories and is clearly intelligent, reasoned and doesnt do things just to be populist. You can therefore write him off your list as anywhere near able to get to PM !!!

He’s not my cup of tea so no thanks!!! X

Huge respect for Rory Stewart. What a different few years we’d have had with him steering the ship. More integrity in his little finger than BJ has had in his entire life.

@Magicmum101

Huge respect for Rory Stewart. What a different few years we’d have had with him steering the ship. More integrity in his little finger than BJ has had in his entire life.

Agreed.

Yes I would usually rather rip my own limbs off than vote Tory but I really like Rory. However I read a review of one of his books, one in which he walks across Afghanistan (I also part read the book) and the perspective of this particular review was to point out that his walk and what he did with it was somewhat self-serving and narcissistic, and I actually think there's some truth in that. So I'm not totally convinced he's got the real depth that this situation would need.
But then who has?

I have so much time for this man and regret he didn't get further in the leadership election. He is intelligent, has credibility, is a diplomat and doesn't appear to tell lies. He also speaks with such openness and has strategic direction. I wish he would return for us.

Lifelong Tory here (until Brexit and Lockdowns, that is). I have said I will never vote Conservative again, but the one exception I would make would be for RS.

God yes, compared to everyone in the Cabinet. I knew people who have worked with him and they speak very highly of him.

and doesn't do things just to be populist

That's what makes him so unusual among his contemporaries I think.

And yes, I like his centrist politics. Have still not quite come to terms with how BJ, Rees-Smug, Gove etc have swung the Tories so far to the right. The chumocracy thrives, as does their self-interest!

Why is no one claiming the middle ground? Ed Davey not particularly impressive so far, but there again, the Lib Dems glean so little coverage, one can't really say for sure ... .

Am not a Tory and am unlikely to ever be, but I was sad when RS stepped down. He understands foreign policy and geopolitics waaaay better than the current Foreign Secretary or the PM.

We lost a lot of decent centrist Tories at the last election. Dominic Grieve, Justine Greening etc. Party is far too right these days.

@heldinadream

Yes I would usually rather rip my own limbs off than vote Tory but I really like Rory. However I read a review of one of his books, one in which he walks across Afghanistan (I also part read the book) and the perspective of this particular review was to point out that his walk and what he did with it was somewhat self-serving and narcissistic, and I actually think there's some truth in that. So I'm not totally convinced he's got the real depth that this situation would need. But then who has?

I've just ordered 'The Places in Between' heldinadream so I'll let you know

I would have gone on reading it @Beneficentbovine88 but I was reading someone else's copy at their house so I left the book when I left the house.

I might buy and finish it one day. Anyway he seems a really good man but I just have that very slight suspicion of him. Never trust a Tory? I could find the review - it was on Amaz.

Ok I just went and looked at the one star reviews of it on Amaz - they are pretty damning and I do think they have some valid points and are not just politically motivated hatchet jobs. Did you look before you ordered it?

Would be interested to hear another opinion. The copy I read was signed by him and I have a suspicion the people who owned it might actually know him (right demographic). I was just the humble house-sitter.

Wasn’t Rory Stewart in the Labour Party when he was young? He has some very interesting ideas about what constitutes a middle ground, he says it’s not a fudge note that tries to balance or reconcile conflicting ideas but a true point of harmony and that it is not easily found. I really like the guy, I’m a never Tory voter too but I’d make an exception for him. It doesn’t look like he’s headed back into Westminster though, and I can’t blame him for that. As a bonus, he clearly can’t stand BJ.

I have just been thinking about him. I think what is so impressive is that when he speaks you have the sense of someone who truly understands what they are talking about. Someone who has analysed things from all angles, weighed up on all the points and has a clear, analytic mind that comes to a strong conclusion. And it is the sheer absence of that clarity of thought that we all miss. Everything sounds like a fudge, spin, bumbling nonsense. Sometimes you need that clear eyed honesty that leaves people feeling well at least someone is in charge and they seem to know what they are doing.

He doesn’t tolerate fools either. He was scathing about BJ in an interview I saw recently.

I often thought if he went for head of Labour it would be a landslide victory.

@Alwayssupportingdifference

I have so much time for this man and regret he didn't get further in the leadership election. He is intelligent, has credibility, is a diplomat and doesn't appear to tell lies. He also speaks with such openness and has strategic direction. I wish he would return for us.

I wonder if we could parachute him in as a special envoy or similar to deal with current crisis?

@Bellalastrasse

He doesn’t tolerate fools either. He was scathing about BJ in an interview I saw recently.

I often thought if he went for head of Labour it would be a landslide victory.

Yes I think he vowed never to serve under BJ and therefore resigned in 2019.

@Beneficentbovine88

Yes, that seems sensible. I’m sure he has shared his thoughts on Afghanistan. I wonder if it down to whether he would do it with BJ in office? I think he would, I think he is a man of duty when he feels it is a just cause.

Cross posted!

@Bellalastrasse

I have just been thinking about him. I think what is so impressive is that when he speaks you have the sense of someone who truly understands what they are talking about. Someone who has analysed things from all angles, weighed up on all the points and has a clear, analytic mind that comes to a strong conclusion. And it is the sheer absence of that clarity of thought that we all miss. Everything sounds like a fudge, spin, bumbling nonsense. Sometimes you need that clear eyed honesty that leaves people feeling well at least someone is in charge and they seem to know what they are doing.

Yes, so refreshing! He has the air of someone who stands back and observes carefully and makes his own mind up about things having researched and cogitated!

Yes I'm a fan - I would have seriously considered voting for him as Mayor of London when that seemed like an option.

He was apparently highly respected by the relevant stakeholders as Prisons Minister.

I have a lot of time for him.

Educated and wise. He is pretty much everything that Johnson is not, on tbat score.

Not a Tory voter either, but the UK would be so different today had the Tories elected him leader instead of Boris. :(