Conservative Party Leadership (UK)

[nemafakei]

If you were'nt already aware, Iain Duncan-Smith has lost a vote of confidence as leader of the Conservative party. For those of you who didn't know who he was, count yourself among the number including millions of Britons who also didn't.

(see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3225127.stm for more details)

There exist quite a few questions:

Who is going to be the successor? Michael Howard seems the top contender, especially now that David Davis has said he won't run.

Will this leader become PM in 05/06? Will it be more Blair? Charles Kennedy? Or a hung Parliament?

Will the Conservative party avoid the sinking which seems to have happened to one major party every century?

What will become of British politics as a whole, with no credible right, no discernible left, and no trust in MPs in general?

Your thoughts...

[Atomic Mitten]

Will this leader become PM in 05/06? Will it be more Blair? Charles Kennedy? Or a hung Parliament?

Well I think that would be a good idea, hang the lot of them. lol

[Caid Ivik]

With Blair's worsening situation, it seems Conservatives have a good chance, so they will elect anyone with charisma to lead them. But I'm no expert on british scene, so I don't know how much importance you give to the party leaders.

[Atomic Mitten]

Well like all politicians we take them all with a pinch of salt ! ;)

[Dante]

Unless they update their image (shock! Horror!) I don't think the conservatives will go anywhere. Labour might have looked forward to two or even three more terms but the way things are going now I think they'll only get one before the Lib Dems move in at last.

[Tio_Holtzmann]

Michael Howard was in favour of the poll tax. Oh. My. Word.

Is the Conservative party just getting STUPIDER? Looking back on things, I now consider William Hague and John Major to be quite dynamic.....

[nemafakei]

"Michael Howard has 89 of the 165 Conservative MPs signed up to his campaign to be the next Tory leader"

(List from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3228695.stm )

That's pretty damned quick!

The speed at which people seem to be endorsing Howard is quite alarming - enough to suggest that the Tories might actually end up with a clear message next election.

However, it would be sensible for one of the MPs to stand against him simply in order to give the general membership a choice, else the grassroots end of politics will start to get rather annoyed.

I've got it! They should elect Boris Johnson!

Boris, possibly the best comedian the Tories have. Mostly because he makes a fool out of himself whenever seen in person.

[Tio_Holtzmann]

Yeah but at least he's a good sport, you see him on Have I Got News For You? I think he'd be a good laugh and maybe in a weird roundabout way he will be seen as a good leader cos whenever he makes a gaffe in public <as Tory party leaders frequently WILL> people will think it's just him being an eejit and not the fact that he's leader of a defunct party. hmm....

Well only the Tory party seems to be signing onto Howard, they may have a clear message come next election but i still say they're going to be about as popular as they've ever been in recent times. About as popular as the Poll Tax was.....

[shygirl4]

labour party :)

conservative party :(

liberals >:(

shy

[Tio_Holtzmann]

Labour party - lost credibility ;D

Tory party - what credibility? :O

Lib Dem party - ah sure you may as well give 'em a go ;)

Tio

[Apollyon]

Let's elect Alan Rickman! America has Arnie so we need a classically trained british actor to counter. ;D

Seriously though, all the parties are so hopeless at the moment. Labour is a sham. Conservatives have the most laughable leader and the democrats won't win unless hell freezes over. But remember all it's important to vote for a lizard so the wrong lizard doesn't get in...

[Atomic Mitten]

John cleese,lol

[nemafakei]

New Labour: The voterbase of the left, the policies of the centre-right, a modern style of communication, but inside, just as feudal as Britain 700 years ago.

The Conservatives: The same voterbase they've had for 40 years - except dead people don't vote; they have policies hidden away in an office in Whitehall somewhere; very well-prepared, well-delivered arguments from experinced debaters - which you'll only see if you watch the Houses of Parliament; and inside, more sniping than a guerilla world war (certainly up until a few days ago).

The Lib Dems: People vote for them because they have no idea who they are and what they stand for - just that they're neither of the above (quite worrying, when you think about it). Some voterbase from the centre, but clearly Britain's leftmost major party.

Hmm... at my suggestion that he stand, I received this:

"Thank you for your e mail, which I will draw to Mr. Johnson's attention

Jill Burge

Acting Secretary"

Ah, well. I do really think he would make a good leader. It's time we had some more interesting characters in politics.

[Tio_Holtzmann]

Apollyonic Spree, you aren't a fan of Dead Ringers by any chance? your comment sounds a lot like one of their running jokes.

I'd laugh now if Boris Johnson became a candidate. At least it'd stop Howrd from just walking in there and sending the party even further into the Dark Ages.....

[Dunenewt]

Michael Howard will be the next PM I reckon.

I hate Lib Dems, and Labour...they need to sort themselves out and stop fighting between themselves...and even then I still wouldn't go anywhere near them.

[Dante]

Politicians are all slime. Lets have an oligarchy. An autocratic, monarchic, technocratic oligarchy.

I call Scotland. :)

[Apollyon]

Apollyonic Spree, you aren't a fan of Dead Ringers by any chance? your comment sounds a lot like one of their running jokes.

Heheh! Rightly noticed, Tio. :)

[Atomic Mitten]

Our Politicians need to grow up and stop behaving like a bunch of public school boys ! (even if they are ).

They bicker and squabble over silly issues, instead of making sensible decisions, they spend all their time arguing.

That is not the way to govern a country.

Personally I wish the Queen was in power, maybe then England would have someone with a strong enough character, for politicians to aknowledge.

We need someone who isn't afraid of making laws that are unpopular, for the benefit of all, rather than the few.

If England carries on sinking into a third world country, as it is rapidly becoming, there will be anarchy before very much longer !

People are just fed up of the rich getting richer at the expense of decent people, that is what is causing the poverty and crime in the UK.

The Laws about under age criminals must be changed to fit the country, not the opinions of the do-gooders, who seem to live on another planet.

As long as kids know that they can get away with anything, because there is no discipline or respect anymore, then society will continue to degrade, to the point where vigilanties will roam the streets, they will have to ! because otherwise nobody will be safe, anywhere !

The answer in my opinion, is to make the parents financially responsible for their offspring, and to reduce the age of criminal responsibility to 12.

In England 10 year olds are stoning Firemen and Ambulance drivers, who are only doing their jobs !

Where is this going to end ?