I think parties have lost sight of what a good leader is. Its become all about personality. Its a factor, but not the only factor. Trust, compassion, stability, providing direction, resolving issues, team building, facilitation, and the list goes on. Its about building a team and empowering them, letting them know what their goals are and how they fit in, managing conflict, setting an ecample. Creating a vision, setting targets and measuring against them. Then communicating openly and truthfully. Many politicians wouldnt know that if it bit them on the bum. What Boris and many others in the commons don't understand is its not about being popular, its about getting a job done. I want fewer buzz words or phrases and more clarity and delivery. I dont want Getting Brexit Done or Building 40 'new hospitals' (which turns out to be 3, none of which will be delivered on time, a couple extensions and a bit of painting) I dont want Leveling Up, I want tangible growth in areas lagging living standards. And I want honest reporting of acheivements against defined targets, not wishy washy statements that tell you nothing. And I want the updates, warts and all. No gloss, no polish, hard facts however unpalatable. Its where someone with a military background could shine. Was gutted Ben Wallace didnt stand. Tom and Penny to slug it out then.
You should have joined the contest. Wallace was too good an option - he would have walked it. Apparently the decision not to stand was made with his family and desire to continue in his current role. The incoming PM would be nuts to replace him, but we've seen wackier decisions made before. I'd also go with either Morduant or Tugendhat - both would bring a totally new approach to collective governance. Sunak is ambitious but too far removed from real life, Truss is another loose cannon in the Boris mould, and Badenoch seems far too lightweight.
Agree with regard to Ben Wallace. However, I thinks he's been shrewd and knows that whoever gets the gig will be spending their time dealing with BJs dodgy legacy. Ben Wallace's time will come. I really don't care which of the front runners get the job now. I'm afraid they're all tainted and worse, are probably incapable.
Rumour has it there is a big job in NATO waiting for him at the appropriate time. PM would be a distraction.
I'm not politic enough. One of the stumbling blocks in my career. Called a spade a £ucking shovel. Not complaining. Got to operate at a level where I could peer over the battlements.... ....and when the bullets started flying I could duck back down. I think it takes a certain character to be PM. Very few have it. Maggie (Where's aber?) , and I disagreed with many of her policies, had the right stuff. Courage, determination, straight talking, commanded respect, took no sh!t, gravitas. I don't think the capability within the parties will provide good government. A PM needs capable people around them. The fact Dorries, Rees-Mogg, Williamson, Shapps, Patel, Hancock, Raab and many others have made the front benches sums it up. I actually think there were better available, but they didnt massage BoJos ego enough. The new PM will have a big job. Uniting the party, forming a government, unravelling the current mess, finally 'getting brexit done', and actually delivering something of benefit to the country.
The thought of cardboard man, the wee Krankie girl & that Lib Dem peanut politician in a coalition is more frightening than any of these lightweight Tories.
I don't worry about lack lustre politicians. To my mind we've been badly bitten by electing a showman. I want a serious statesman in the top job during these challenging times. As I said before, I'm not sure what my political leanings are but based on statesmanship I think Starmer could be good. Just depends on his policies which I'm not clear on. In the meantime it looks like we're stuck with who 180,000 selected Tory members pick
That’s hilarious He and his female cronies would be a total utter and absolute damp squib. Cardboard man is a retired jobsworth civil servant whom has no policy ideas whatsoever. He’s just not a politician. It’s not clear how he ended up as the leader of the most sterile middle class socialist party in history. An ineffectual Tory government would still be better than an inevitable coalition of misfits. Especially if the new PM brings back proper capitalist conservatism rather than the left of centre big state policies we suffered under Johnson.
My political leanings have moved over time. Many moons back I actually did vote for Blair. I was living in the Valleys, skint and was struggling. Over time, as I worked my way up the social ladder, I've started to become more conservative. I'd position myself as probably (if pushed) centre right. Agree with much of what's been said about the current situation. None of them, or any of the opposition fill me with any real confidence. I'd give Boris his dues for unsticking the country on Brexit and for seeing off Comrade Corbyn and his Citizen Smith cronies (as much of a feck up Boris has been, Corbyn would have been an absolute nightmare and would probably have had our troops joining Putin's on their "liberation" of Ukraine... but he's still leaving a hell of a lot to clean up. I agree on the country needing warts and all type honesty however I'm not sure there are many folks any more that can actually handle the truth without breaking into mass panic (ably assisted by the scummy media)... It worries me that far too many people these days get their political updates via social media. I saw one woman saying she didn't have any real faith in Liz Truss as she'd seen a "mash up on tick-tock" of her gaffs.... Tick-tock for crying out loud
Nin. I knew I was on dodgy territory and I've learned never to argue with anyone that brands a genuinely held and open opinion as "hilarious".
I'm a hard line floating voter. Voted conservative, labour, lib dem and independent in my time. Like you I think I have conservative tendencies though. Quite happy for the conservatives to remain in power, just without that egotistical, narcissistic, tw@ leading the party. Having some time on my hands, I've been following politics a bit more closely in the last couple years and have read up on the traits of people who support the various parties. Even though I have a working class background, I probably sit somewhere between a conservative and lib dem. Certainly don't want a nanny state.
So we’re down to the final two. Neither instil any real confidence but that’s probably the make up of modern day politicians for you.
OMG Liz Truss could actually be PM. It will be time to just give up if people actually vote the Tories in again.
Aber!!! So lovely to hear from you. Come more often!! Join the Prediction League!!! First game is up already!!!
About ****ing time! Two politics threads and no sign of you! Where have you been? I hope everything with you and yours has been and is ok. Good to see you
