National News Your choice of PM

[gofish2]

What would be your choice and why?
My preference is Stewart, as he is the most refreshing MP I have heard for years.

 

[Marked Ox]

Where is the "none of the above" option? ?

I'd suggest the majority of non-Tories will pick Stewart as he seems the only non-Loon candidate in that list.

 

[gofish2]

None of the above is of course implicit, but sadly this is the choice we (or conservative members) have. Stewart is clearly the most reasoned candidate.

 

[Yellow River]

I can perfectly understand the media love-in with Stewart’s quirky style and delivery, but it will wear very thin after a while particularly the more media exposure he gets. I think he might be in the wrong party though, very New Labour.

Clearly it’s looking like Boris, mainly because the grass roots believe he has the best chance of beating Corbyn and persuading ex Tory voters back from the Brexit Party.

None of them really fills me with much enthusiasm though, however Sajid Javid looks like a reasonable compromise, therefore gets my vote in this poll.

 

[bashamwonderland]

People obviously like Stewart because he's the most likely to keep us in the EU. Seems like an honest man.

Not sure if he can really be called "refreshing" though, considering he went to Eton and is a career politician...

 

[Gary Baldi]

Rory Stewart's approach, with Matt Hancock, has been refreshing away from some of the staler launches. He's clearly an intelligent and decent man. I'd be very surprised if he made the final 2 as I don't feel he will go down so well outside of London and the media there.

Little Miss "Literally a Communist" is not a fan though:

If you think Rory Stewart is the grownup choice, think again | Ash Sarkar

He may appear to be a centrists’ dream, but take a closer look at his voting record, says the journalist Ash Sarkar

www.theguardian.com

 

[Peterdev]

Boris will be PM as he carries the party and MPs
Poor choices though
Johnson will upset people and puts his foot in it too much. Will do anything to get in. Another Etonian
Michael Gove. For me has ruined his chances, cocaine snorting will come back to haunt him
Dominic Raab. Doesn’t have the charisma of Johnson, but a very intelligent man and a strong background. Was involved in bringing war criminals to justice and a black belt in karate. Best of a bad bunch I feel.
Sajid Javid sounds like an old Thatcherite or Tebbit character. I worked hard from nothing character. Not so sure he will cut it with the party faithful.
Rory Stewart has obvious appeal to those who are pro EU but is articulate and sensible in arguments. Quite likeable but out of the running I think.
Jeremy Hunt. Likely to be second overall. People I know that have met him even from Labour actually quite like him and he does look the part. I think a better Foreign Secretary than Johnson and has been vocal in his support of the U.K./Iranian national being released from prison.
For me Raab, Hunt close behind.
At the end of the day we all know it will be Johnson...that said Major surprised everyone

 

[gofish2]

People obviously like Stewart because he's the most likely to keep us in the EU. Seems like an honest man.

Not sure if he can really be called "refreshing" though, considering he went to Eton and is a career politician...

His reasoning, openness and articulation is certainly refreshing.

 

[Banbury2018]

I can perfectly understand the media love-in with Stewart’s quirky style and delivery, but it will wear very thin after a while particularly the more media exposure he gets. I think he might be in the wrong party though, very New Labour.

Clearly it’s looking like Boris, mainly because the grass roots believe he has the best chance of beating Corbyn and persuading ex Tory voters back from the Brexit Party.

None of them really fills me with much enthusiasm though, however Sajid Javid looks like a reasonable compromise, therefore gets my vote in this poll.

Your comment regarding New Labour may be close to the mark as I have seen that his skeleton in the cupboard( they all have them) is as a teenager he was a member of the Labour Party.

 

[Yellow River]

Your comment regarding New Labour may be close to the mark as I have seen that his skeleton in the cupboard( they all have them) is as a teenager he was a member of the Labour Party.

I genuinely didn’t know that, but then again I only became aware of him a few weeks ago.

Stewart certainly has a touch of the evangelical Blair about him. Saying that I’m sure he’ll be a big player for the Tories in the future, although it looks too soon for him at the moment.

 

[Foley]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread, but are there any out and out labour voters on here and what are your genuine views on Corbyn?
As a total floating voter, I am scared shitless of Corbyn getting in and I am no more comforted with Boris.
Agree with most on here that Stewart would be the more moderate choice.

 

[Scotchegg]

In May we had one of the weakest Prime Ministers in decades, but she was up against Corbyn and Vince Cable! If either had a strong leader the Tories would have been done by now.

May was beaten by her own party, and who ever wins the leadership contest will have the same battle.

Boris is so far ahead it should be a done deal. But missing the debate tonight only puts more pressure on him not f*****g up on Tuesday. Unfortunately, his bumbling, non-committal stance can only last so long. It is now likely to be 5 looking to shoot Boris down, with Gove and Stewart being much strong communicators. Both can get under his skin and leave Boris shooting himself in the foot. On the other hand, I expect Jeremy Hunt to stay out of that and appear more statesman like to try to pick up the votes of those worried about all the infighting.

 

[Foley]

Hi. A few years ago I would have qualified as an 'out and out Labour voter' who believed socialism was the best chance of remedying the inequalities in our society. Pretty smug, eh?

I also enjoyed it when May made her disastrous decision to call an election and Corbyn rejuvenated Labour's standing.

Since then though, I've felt more confused than dedicated to the cause. Corbyn - undoubted dedicated socialist that he is in principle - is weak and indecisive. Failing to deal with loose cannons like Diane Abbott, making a complete hash of the anti-Semitism row, fence-sitting on far too many topics, like Brexit. I say 'confused' because my only voting options now are Greens or Lib Dems. I empathise with a lot of their policies, but they're just not strident enough on issues like re-distributing wealth.

Yes, Corbyn scares me too. A left winger who I just can't imagine leading the country.

Agree Pete. Who in earth would you vote for?
Total mess...

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I have voted for Labour on some occasions previously (so not really an 'out and out'supporter really), but I try to familiarise myself with who is promising to do what at election time rather than just voting for a particular party because that's what I did last time. I have never voted Conservative (I find their lack of real empathy or sympathy with the less fortunate in society rather repugnant).

I can't vote for Labour at the moment. They are a shambles. I don't have the faintest idea where the party or their leader REALLY stand on Brexit, they have offered no real opposition to an increasingly right-leaning Tory party, they seem to have little cohesion, few policies and (from what I understand) to be as in thrall to Momentum as the Tories are to the ERG. Unelectable. Add that to the fact that Corbyn is about as charismatic as something you'd scape off your shoe and I think a Johnson led Tory party would win an election. Despite all Johnson's manifest failings. That's a pretty damming indictment of the Labour Party.

I have actually come to the conclusion that the most important issue facing the human race in the medium term is the environment and climate change so have decided that (despite the fact that they haven't a hope in hell in my constituency or nationally thanks to the FPTP system) I will be voting Green. Whether we are in the EU or out of it makes less difference to the futures of my children than whether they have a world fit to live in. Of course I will also have the benefit that as we are gasping for a breath of unpoisoned air, I will be able to pop up and smugly mutter 'told you so' to everyone more bothered about straight bananas or what exact shade of colour someone's skin is!

 

[Essexyellows]

As one of the few on here who will actually get to vote on this I`m praying that Rory makes it to the party membership ballot.

Sadly it`ll be Bojo and Hunt..... but I`m eternally optimistic!!

 

[Gary Baldi]

As one of the few on here who will actually get to vote on this I`m praying that Rory makes it to the party membership ballot.

Sadly it`ll be Bojo and Hunt..... but I`m eternally optimistic!!

I don't think Rory has enough concrete plans to get in the final 2. His time will come though.

Agree on BoJo and Hunt. Gove is shilling like crazy, but I get the impression people have long memories from 2016 and think there are better options out there.

 

[bazzer9461]

It’s going to be Johnson that is plain to see. Probably because he is pro brexit which for those of us who voted to leave he would be our choice as next PM.
But it’s after we leave the EU what about the emergency services, what about the elderly, what about the disabled and the less infirm and what about the country as a whole? These are issues that sadly are being left behind because of brexit.
Whoever although it’s likely to be Boris who wins the race to be PM should call a general election as they would only be PM as a result the result of the Tory members vote and not as a result of a general election. A general election is what the leftist Labour Party want as the believe this would be their chance to win and if they did I fear they would ignore the referendum vote and be all happy if we were to remain as a result of another referendum.
Then they would go onto their spend, spend and spend policy and leave us up s**t creak, but as we’re the laughing stock of Europe at the moment at least Labour could disguise their ineptness and like all parties blame the others.

 

[gofish2]

• 
  Market will be settled on the immediate successor to Theresa May as UK Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson	1/8
Jeremy Hunt	12/1
Rory Stewart	12/1

Skybet odds

 

[Essexyellows]

It’s going to be Johnson that is plain to see. Probably because he is pro brexit which for those of us who voted to leave he would be our choice as next PM.
But it’s after we leave the EU what about the emergency services, what about the elderly, what about the disabled and the less infirm and what about the country as a whole? These are issues that sadly are being left behind because of brexit.
Whoever although it’s likely to be Boris who wins the race to be PM should call a general election as they would only be PM as a result the result of the Tory members vote and not as a result of a general election. A general election is what the leftist Labour Party want as the believe this would be their chance to win and if they did I fear they would ignore the referendum vote and be all happy if we were to remain as a result of another referendum.
Then they would go onto their spend, spend and spend policy and leave us up s**t creak, but as we’re the laughing stock of Europe at the moment at least Labour could disguise their ineptness and like all parties blame the others.

We elect a party not a Prime Minister. Appointing a PM with no recourse to the electorate isn`t a new thing on either side of the house.

 

[Marked Ox]

Hi Baz. Depends on your point ofd view, of course. The Tories favour fiscal responsibility. Austerity was a manifesto pledge of theirs. This has meant massively reduced spending on public services, down 70% since 2010. And you wonder why the emergency services and adult care are suffering? You can't have it both ways.

You say Labour would 'spend, spend, spend' as if they were 1960s pools winners. I would say increasing expenditure on the services we all need would be a positive thing. I'd even be willing to pay an extra 2p in the pound income tax to fund it, would you?

The whole notion of 'balancing the domestic books' is not something our economic competitors bother about. Have you seen the US' latest national deficit? They've lost count of the number of zeroes, but they don't care. The bailiffs will not be beating a path to Pennsylvania Avenue.

I'm sure the data has been put on here before, but Labour have actually paid back more of the country's debt, and when increasing it it has been far less than the Tories. So over a long period Labour has actually been more fiscally responsible.

Also, Bazzer needs to look at the Tories' spending as they've had discovered a magic money tree, just they choose to spend it on pet projects like cutting tax rates for the richer members of society, the DUP, screwing up contracts for Brexit etc, etc.

Johnson has already promised a further massive tax cut for higher rate taxpayers, Javid, Hunt etc will have to access the magic money tree to pay for their attempted bribes/offers just like Johnson. The only one who hasn't, it seems, offered grandiose schemes promising the sun is Rory Stewart.

So, if Labour do "spend, spend, spend" as Bazzer asserts, it will be no different to the Tories "spend, spend, spend". The difference will be in how it is spent.