Forum Topic

Anti-corruption tsar

"Boris Johnson’s anti-corruption tsar resigns, claiming PM broke ministerial code over Partygate‘I hope you will stand aside so we can look to the future and choose your successor’""Mr Penrose said: “The only fair conclusion to draw from the Sue Gray report is that you have breached a fundamental principle of the ministerial code – a clear resigning matter.“But your letter to your independent adviser on the ministerial code ignores this absolutely central, non-negotiable issue completely. And, if it had addressed it, it is hard to see how it could have reached any other conclusion than that you had broken the code.”He added: “As a result, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be honourable or right for me to remain as your anti-corruption champion after reaching this conclusion, nor for you to remain as prime minister either.“I hope you will stand aside so we can look to the future and choose your successor.”" (Independent today)Apparently crumbling more than I thought.But a successor - who would or could that be? Such an astounding pool of talent! Who scares you the least?

David Ainsworth ● 1337d14 Comments

"It is likely he continues his dead man's walk until the next election."Time enough for a lot of excitement and zombies. I can hardly wait.

David Ainsworth ● 1337d

59% for, 41% against. Even less popular than Theresa May. He is now even more of a dead man walking. 2 poor byelection results to come.After surviving such a vote, Thatcher was persuaded of the futility of her trying to carry on by senior members of her cabinet.Unfortunately, rather than picking out the most able, Johnson has stuffed his cabinet with sycophants and patsies, so this is less likely to happen. It is likely he continues his dead man's walk until the next election.

Michael Winstanley ● 1337d

Well, he won, sadly!For:  211 - against:  148Unbelievable!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1337d

From BBC website:20:48What's the latest vote tally?The latest publicly declared support and opposition for Boris Johnson among Conservative MPs stands as follows, according to the BBCs political research unit:Confidence in Johnson to remain as PM: 155No confidence: 43Other Conservative MPs have not stated their position on the prime minister's future.Is it possible that no confidence votes amount to 43 when there are at least 54 letters submitted to the Committee?  Something is certainly not right here!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1337d

"David, I was actually thinking someone from a country with a higher democratic rating than the UK."They'd be a fish out of water.

David Ainsworth ● 1337d

"Somebody with real rightwing credentials? Trump, Putin?"David, I was actually thinking someone from a country with a higher democratic rating than the UK.

Ed Robinson ● 1337d

"Perhaps we should open it up to international applicants?"Somebody with real rightwing credentials? Trump, Putin?

David Ainsworth ● 1337d

Unfortunately out of the front runners Johnson is still the best choice.I would have said Hunt but he seems to have forgotten that he was in charge of the NHS for 6 years!Johnson can at least be swayed if a wind blows hard enough.Perhaps we should open it up to international applicants?

Ed Robinson ● 1337d

No Rishi?

Lucille Grant ● 1337d

Agreed he's the least worst choice but he's at 49/1, below such luminaries as Dominic Raab.  Meanwhile Hunt is now at 5️/1 with Penny Mordaunt second favourite at 13/2 with Truss drifting at 38/5.

Richard Carter ● 1337d

Tobias Ellwood?Least worst choice, and that’s not saying much.Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 1337d

... But at least that complete dimwit Nadine Dorries is at 200/1.

Richard Carter ● 1337d

Looking at the Odds Checker website, Johnson is 2/9 to win (ie, bet £9 to win only £2), but that could mean anything really, from a huge majority to one of only one. I saw somewhere, but can't find it now, that the most likely result was 140-149 votes against. That would mean a severely wounded Johnson struggling on, at least until the Tories lose the two pending by-elections. The scary thing is that Liz Truss, FGS, is second favourite for next Conservative leader (after Jeremy Hunt).

Richard Carter ● 1337d

I do not know what the outcome of the no-confidence vote will be - I even fear that Johnson will win it, perhaps by a margin of 1?As for the successor, who scares me the least?  Impossible to say as every name fills me with dread.  Jeremy Hunt?  He will destroy the NHS even further.I have run out of names....  If only Justine Greening were there, I would say her.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1337d