Forum Topic

Tonight's debate

I'll try to watch tonight's debate but, if it turns out into the bickering of the last one, I'll switch off!Looking at the policies of both candidates plus their profile published on the BBC's website, particularly about the latter, I cannot see how anybody could consider Liz Truss having the backing by Nadine Dorries, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Cruella Braverman to be serious or feasible endorsement. There again, Rishi Sunak having the backing of Dominic Raab, Steve Barclay and Jeremy Hunt does not appear to be an uplifting proposition.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1056d40 Comments

“need me to drop some superglue round Sue? ;)”LOL - very droleI can just picture the scene at conservative headquarters 🤣Sue - I think his time has passed, and I think he wasted a chunk of it although to be fair he must have been poorly for a while after his hospital stay for Covid two years ago not that he would get much sympathy here.  Very hard to spot any conservative policies, more tax borrow and (using his own words) spaff against the wall.  He could have changed direction with his mandate, instead he signed off on questionable lockdowns funded by vast borrowing, expanded the state, I’m slightly surprised that Jeremy Corbyn didn’t congratulate him for his journey into big state socialism

Mike Warman ● 1054d

tbh i seriously doubt my son will choose to have children. I certainly wouldnt do so now with the way the world is.Obviously his choice but I wouldnt blame him

Matt Palmer ● 1054d

At least Matt will be able to tell them that he tried to warn everyone about global warming!

Michael Ixer ● 1054d

You must get that framed!👍🏻Something to show your Grandchildren!😸

Sue Hammond ● 1054d

aah the single most glorious moment of my life! 🤣🤣

Matt Palmer ● 1054d

Yes Matt...if you're dressed as a 🍓😉

Sue Hammond ● 1055d

need me to drop some superglue round Sue? ;)

Matt Palmer ● 1055d

I was talking about a general election Sue, not the election of the party leader.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1055d

"Claire Bullivant, editor of the Conservative Post and one of the petition organisers, said: “We don’t have a Prime Minister problem. We have a huge media problem.“How can 60 herd-like MPs oust Boris? They fell for the biased media’s tricks. It’s undemocratic and the people must have their say. Let’s get Boris on the ballot.”""We have a huge media problem." Where has she been for the last 6 years?"“How can 60 herd-like MPs oust Boris?"How could hundreds of herd-like MPs support Boris?"They fell for the biased media’s tricks."Again, where has she been for the last 6 years?-------------------------------Live by the sword, die by the sword.

David Ainsworth ● 1055d

"Sometimes rules need to be broken".Johnson is well aware of that, don't you think?

David Ainsworth ● 1055d

Sometimes rules need to be broken.

Sue Hammond ● 1055d

There is a poll currently running to reinstate Boris  Well supported  Perhaps for the first time ever I don't agree with Sue!  To me rules are rules and it is just like the remoaners trying to alter the democratic majority.That was the majority opinion of MPs at that moment in time  Whether they live to regret being so impetuous is another story.  Also, whatever your opinion of the 2 left in the PM race, it must be totally destabilizing.Boris can go through the procedures and start again, but would he want to?  It really is time to move on

Barbara Shillabeer ● 1055d

You won't be able to, it's only for party members.

Sue Hammond ● 1055d

Thank you Sue.As you will probably have guessed, I will not sign a petition to reinstate BoJo as I cannot wait to see the back of him.Sadly, the two "surviving" contenders have not impressed that much but I do believe Sunak is better than Lizzie.  After all, she started the nasty bickering at the previous debate.A very sad state of affairs for the party.  I think there really should be an election and neither Sunak or Liz as head of the  conservative party.New blood is an absolute must!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1055d

"The petition has been spearheaded by Tory peer Lord Cruddas, a former party treasurer and supporter of Vote Leave, and the increase comes after campaigners also revealed they are confident to launch a legal bid to reverse Mr Johnson’s resignation.The issue has highlighted a growing gulf between Tory MPs and ordinary members of the party many of whom want the Prime Minister to stay.Claire Bullivant, editor of the Conservative Post and one of the petition organisers, said: “We don’t have a Prime Minister problem. We have a huge media problem.“How can 60 herd-like MPs oust Boris? They fell for the biased media’s tricks. It’s undemocratic and the people must have their say. Let’s get Boris on the ballot.”The revelation has led to another spike in Tory members backing the petition for him to be able to stay on.The demands were also fuelled by another gruesome display by the two contenders to replace Mr Johnson in a leadership debate on the BBC last night.Tories reacted with horror as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss tore into one another over a range of issues with attacks getting quite personal at times.At the end of the debate, despite the two claiming they would want each other in their respective cabinets, Ms Truss’ spokesman said that Mr Sunak “was not fit for office.”But Mr Sunak’s own “bullying” behaviour during the debates had also angered many of his colleagues."

Sue Hammond ● 1055d

@ Ivonnehttps://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1645988/Boris-Johnson-petition-12000-Tory-leadership-Conservative-party-members-update

Sue Hammond ● 1055d

Which petition?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1055d

Absolutely!

Sue Hammond ● 1055d

Have/will you be signed/signing the petition?

Michael Winstanley ● 1055d

True. Well if Smarmy is still in post they might have a chance ...

Sue Hammond ● 1055d

"Neither of them would have a snowball's hope in hell of winning the next GE"You forget whom they will/may be up against.---------------------------"like waxwork figures with weird rictus grins" x 3

David Ainsworth ● 1055d

Well it opened up with the two candidates standing there like waxwork figures with weird rictus grins. I could sense it would not go well, and it didn't. Sunak ~ Manic and overbearing Truss ~ Uninspiring and wooden Raworth ~ Pathetic presenter with very little control BBC Stooges Mason & Islam ~ Predictable 'experts' As a Conservative party member I shall be entitled to vote but neither of these will be getting mine.  Neither of them would have a snowball's hope in hell of winning the next GE and the MPs who rashly booted Boris out must have been holding their head in their hands and bemoaning wtf have we done!?🙀

Sue Hammond ● 1055d

"It will be a difficult time for lefties come the next election - not knowing which Conservative to vote for. The blue one or the red one :-)"It will be difficult. By the time of the next election, Starmer could well be attacking the Tories from the Extreme Right.Of course, if he were to win that election, there is no guarantee that he would keep to those principles, either.

David Ainsworth ● 1055d

I am sure you are a full paid up member of the Conservative Party, Barbara.I would love to know what consideration paid up members of the conservative party will give to the voting by the Conservative MPs in the Houses of Parliament to reach the final two contenders.  I also assume that MPs are also party members and have the right to vote, second time round?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1055d

Both Tory PM candidates trotted out the usual claim that higher income tax will prevent growth in GDP, even if they proposed different timescales. This is of course not true. Turning to Sweden as an example their income tax rate is 57%, ours 45%. Their Corporate tax rate is 21.4%, ours 20%. Their GDP growth over the last 5years has been 2.8%, ours 2.1%. All their public services are better and not falling apart like ours. It’s very noticeable as I found when I visited there last year.It was noticeable that the candidates spent more timing debating what they were wearing than the climate crisis. One of Truss’s three suggestions for solving this existential threat to humanity was to throw away less food. Tell that to those people, including nurses, who have resorted to using food banks.Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 1055d

They usually are, whatever the subject. Present company not excepted.However, just on this subject, might not Conservative members with an ounce of common sense consider the popularity of their choice amongst the wider electorate?

Michael Winstanley ● 1055d

"Lefties on this site talking about never watching Conservative leadership debates.."It will be a difficult time for lefties come the next election - not knowing which Conservative to vote for. The blue one or the red one :-)

Ed Robinson ● 1055d

Lefties on this site talking about never watching Conservative leadership debates. Pathetic or what. Margaret Thatcher destroyed left wing ideas forever. Hence your thrashing about to try & justify your beliefs. You even hate Blair because he realised it & he won you 3 elections. Chuck brexit into the mix & you're completely lost.That red wall aren't going to vote for you. As the football fans sing you don't know what you're doing.

Paul Rolink ● 1055d

Doubt if many posters tonight are paid up Conservatives, therefore their comments are totally irrelevant.

Barbara Shillabeer ● 1055d

"...Sir Kier and Angela have already got the champagne and canapes ready by their TVs to sit down with a note pad to write down everything the Tories say they've messed up over the last decade"After 12 years of Tory government you would expect the Labour party to have more than a blank sheet of paper.No One knows what their policies are not even the shadow cabinet as the rail nationalisation has shown today.

Ed Robinson ● 1055d

Ivonne: I agree about the Truss voice. Nondescript and on the edge of common. Would be a bore in the longer (or short) term.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1055d

It looks like Truss has learnt the post financial crash lesson regarding the importance of growth.Sunak appears to be getting more air and an easier time.Truss is doing surprisingly well when she can get a word in.Would loyalty, low taxes, growth, levelling up - appeal to Conservative members more than Sunak's tax more?

Ed Robinson ● 1055d

I agree!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1055d

All I can say is Lord help us all.

Maxine Campbell ● 1055d

Also, reading the reports on the BBC website, Liz Truss says:Ms Truss disputes Mr Sunak's claims [about caution with inflation] and argues she'll start paying back debt within three years.Will she be in power in 3 year's time or is it passing the buck to the next government?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1055d

Funnily enough, I thought she had to control Truss more... She annoys me enormously and her voice does not help.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1055d

Sophie Raworth needs to control Rishi a bit more.

Maxine Campbell ● 1055d

I have just switched off.In my view, both candidates are unbearable.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1055d

I'd rather stick hot pins in my eyes than watch this trash.whats the point unless you're a paid up member of the Tories.Same if it was the other lot unless a paid up member or Union leader why bother.

Andy Pike ● 1056d

I bet Sir Kier and Angela have already got the champagne and canapes ready by their TVs to sit down with a note pad to write down everything the Tories say they've messed up over the last decade. Pity I'm out but I suppose the action replays will be like Leclerc at the weekend; or perhaps the old Prost and Senna incident would be more analogous :-)

Michael Ixer ● 1056d