An Opportunity has arisen - Seize it, Mumsnetters

[theOtherPamAyres]

Rory Stewart is a candidate for the new leader of the Conservative party. More importantly, he wants to be our next Prime Minister, and that means that we all have an interest in holding his feet to the fire, whatever our political persuasion.

He's got a website "Ask Rory" where you can put your questions to him. He also invites you to meet him, if you want to, and will tell you when he is nearby.

www.roryforleader.co.uk/ask_rory

At the moment there is a big gap in the questions that are being asked of him. There is nothing about the Great Experiment being carried out on children wanting to present as the opposite sex. Nothing about trans people in prisons. (he was the prisons minister) Nothing about the state's dismantling of basic safeguarding. Nothing about self i/d into womanhood and the threat to women's services, sports and spaces

His campaign is gathering momentum because it is happening on social media while he is travelling the country. He's finding that voters are not all focussed on Brexit but adult social care, crime, the cost of childcare and so on. He is setting the pace and a stark contrast to the Contenders in their chauffeur-driven cars, PAs and security who talk AT the public but not with them.

Worth a shot, I reckon.

I keep reading these threads as Rod Stewart

Tbf his name isn't Rory it's Roderick...

I have a lot of time for Rory. This is precisely why he won't win the leadership.

To get to the next stage of the contest he needs the support of enough Tory MPs. Which he isn't getting.

What he is doing is opening up a conversation about a lot of things and the future of the Tory Party. (which is scaring Johnson and Raab, but that's another story).

It's possible that his popularity on social media does mean that if he doesn't become leader, there is a fair chance he will get a good job in cabinet instead though.

Don't be surprised if the cards fall right he ends up with foreign secretary. Or defence secretary.

Politicians have been running scared of the Woman Question and keeping their heads down. Now, the contestants for leadership of the Tories and LibDems can't hide behind the party line - they have to speak for themselves and tell us about their values and principles.

Filling in a question form is a relatively easy way of putting the Woman Question on the agenda.

Incidentally, I love Tory Grandee Ken Clark's tweet about the contest: "Good luck to all my colleagues standing for leader. Except Doris Johnson".

I don't think it was a typo.

He really is (a) Rod Stewart then? 😆 I quite like him - he comes across as a rather nice chap. Don’t know if that’s enough but he Isn’t Boris and that’s good enough for me.

He wont make the short list presented to conservative members as he’s admitted smoking heroin (was it) and Trump is now considering banning him from entering the USA
Wont be much use as a PM then will he

Is he going to ban Boris Johnson as well? BJ has admitted to using pot and coke.

I like Rory Stewart a lot, I've thought for a while that he could be a serious contender for PM if his party wasn't so obsessed with having a leave voter as leader. More fool them.

I've never voted Tory and don't know all his policies but I've always been impressed by things he's talked about in the past - can't remember what and it was a long time ago but I'd rather see him at the helm than any other.

No idea about his Brexit thing though

He's not going to be openly GC. He would get crucified.

I fear womens rights are on the brink of total erasure :(

Incidentally, I love Tory Grandee Ken Clark's tweet about the contest: "Good luck to all my colleagues standing for leader. Except Doris Johnson".

That's a parody account.

I don't imagine Rory Stewart will come out as GC but if there is a leadership contest where it would do very little harm to do so it would be the Tory Party. Most of us (I'm a member) would have very little truck with the idea a man can become a woman.

It's interesting to watch him on TV - very intelligent, considered answers, you could send him anywhere in the world as our ambassador - and then look at BJ who you just know will fuck everything up.

He's not going to be openly GC.

He should be. GC means pro women's rights, pro children's welfare, pro safeguarding, pro science and evidence. It's common sense.

Incidentally, I love Tory Grandee Ken Clark's tweet about the contest: "Good luck to all my colleagues standing for leader. Except Doris Johnson

That's a parody account.

Thanks DropofReal - sounds just like Ken Clark, but better.

Somebody should send him a link to this thread.

I have to say I was impressed with his answer on you tube about why No Deal would be such a disaster.

I can't find the link though at the moment!

Just in case Rory's volunteers have had their attention drawn to this thread, I think we need to put some questions to him

Hello Rory's Campaign Team, are you receiving me, over?

Why did the Karen White affair happen?

Why were men's rights prioritised over the rights of women prisoners?
What did you do, as prison minister, to ensure that men will never be put in the Women's Estate ever again?

I posted a question on self ID. I don't think he's got a snowflake's chance in hell of winning but it won't do any harm at all to raise the profile of this issue with him.

Getting a response video for at least one of us would be nice.

mobile.twitter.com/PoliticsJOE_UK/status/1133813666992787456

I think this is the link

Done - I asked him what he was planning to do to ensure the protected characteristic of sex wasn’t erased in favour of gender identity. Chucked in a bit about Karen White.

Done. I asked him to confirm that he would protect single sex spaces and rights, to maintain the privacy, dignity and safety of women

Is he the Conservative Tony Blair? Moderate enough to be the most acceptable candidate by comparison?