This article is on the money in it's reasoning however being a right leaning publication it does not feel the need to tell you that Populous are on the books of the Tories employed 2 dedicated days a week. http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/07/how-the-pms-pollster-pal-called-it-wrong-again/
My MP has put a letter on his site basically saying what I said earlier and gives an insight into some of the behind doors stuff. Very surprised because other MPs will not like it. Very interesting to read though. His name is Karl McCartney and usually stands or sits to the right of Cameron half way up next to the speaker. He hasn't disclosed his support yet. He has lots of people like me pestering him from his locality which will sway him more than the advisors around the 5 candidates: Being in Parliament at this time, is both exciting and bears a heavy responsibility. Exciting because of the need to execute the decision made by the Great British public in the European Referendum last week and sadly the need for a new Prime Minister. And responsibility, because of the need to make the right decisions. It is also a rare time, often for the only time, Conservative Backbenchers are the kingmakers. Within Parliament, many (not all) Backbenchers spend most of their time acting as if they are on “Parliament’s Got Talent” in the vain hope that at some time the wheel of political fortune will land on their number. Some flutter their eyes at the Whips, march through the Government Lobby come what may (extending Sunday Trading anyone?) and even during the Referendum debate, campaign for Remain despite being selected by their Associations on a clear Eurosceptic/Leave ticket. Some even changed sides on the eve of the Referendum when it looked like Remain would win just to improve their chances of being plucked from the supposed obscurity of the Commons Backbenches. This time, the roles are reversed. William Hague said in the Daily Telegraph on Monday that “Each MP is besieged with calls, testing, probing, recruiting, as the candidates try to assemble a credible team of followers or decide, with as much grace as they can muster, to bestow their support on another.” It is certainly true, my mobile is permanently on charge and buzzing. Suddenly I am transformed from being a part of the audience (I was never one for fluttering my eyes at the Whips) to having Simon Cowell-like status. In fact, all Conservative Backbenchers can claim “We are all Simon Cowell now!”…but without the high waistbands. For me as a Conservative Backbencher in a marginal seat, there are four questions that I will be asking all potential leadership candidates this week. My first question relates to the outcome of the European Referendum and whether during their negotiations with the European Union, they are fully committed to asserting our National Sovereignty. This includes the issue of our borders, our economic trade and our Parliamentary Sovereignty as well as on other issues such as our fisheries, agriculture and taxation. The Great British people have spoken and they have given a clear message to Parliament that they want to regain control of our lawmaking, our democracy and on those who govern us. They want to elect those they can remove. Any candidate not fully committed to this will not receive my support. The second question is whether the candidates will be more collegiate and listen to the views of real Backbenchers before they make big political decisions, including on matters that were not in our manifesto and also on what will be in our 2020 manifesto. We already have had attempts at railroading big political matters through without Backbench consultation such as an extension to Sunday Trading and also compulsory schools academisation. And when I talk about listening to Backbenchers, I do not just mean those from the “same old same old” backgrounds and professions, I am talking about those who have real world experience, who have stayed close to their roots and who have to fight for every single vote at General Elections in their constituencies. Those Backbenchers have, and maintain, a real authenticity and their views chime with many of those who voted Leave last week. It is time their voices are heard more, and given more responsibility in the Party many have fought for years in. The third question to ask is whether they believe we need another General Election. Any candidate proposing such a move will not be receiving my support and I expect will not be receiving many other votes from marginal seat Backbenchers either. The General Election last year gave a clear mandate for a Conservative Government to maintain its path of economic growth, reducing Government debt and improving our public services. It also voted for a Conservative Government to deliver a European Referendum. Whoever the new Prime Minister is will not change that path or direction. The manifesto we were elected on remains the central pillar of Government policy, whoever the leader is. Finally, and some may say this is a parochial Parliament issue, but we need reform of the supposed Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). No one can argue that there is not a need for independent oversight of Members of Parliament given the terrible expenses scandal of 2008/09 but the way that the current IPSA behaves needs reform. There will barely be a Backbencher (from any party) who is not unhappy with their offhand negative attitude, their belief that MP’s are an inconvenience and not experienced the hurdles they place in the way of MP’s which prevent them from being able to serve effectively. They have a core belief that all MP’s are millionaires and are only in it for themselves. Anyone wanting to know why many MP’s have not taken up all of the personal security options available should understand that to arrange for Lone Workers’ Devices means entering a world that even Franz Kafka would not dream of. Many of us have complained bitterly about their attitude and the need to reform their culture and attitude. This is an issue that must be tackled by any new Prime Minister on behalf of the whole House and the future of our democracy. Reform will help attract the best people to want to be a Member of Parliament. These four questions are those that all Conservative Backbenchers should be asking those who seek our support to be the next Leader of our Conservative Party and Prime Minister of our Country. They are questions that need to be answered and any candidate will need to give those commitments if they want to make it through to the final round and go before the wider Conservative membership.
This is an impressive speech from Michael Gove: confidence, a great life story, and good humour. A real serious contender.
He will only stand if it is the only way to stop May. brinkmanship yes but he is selling a vision of someone else he wants in.
The Austrian postal vote fraud has been found at last. It should have been found out the minute it was announced as many people on UK politics sites knew it when their website crashed before the postal counts had all been counted and then those after were totally different ratios of support from those that were counted pre the site crash: Austria's presidential run-off election must be held again, the country's Constitutional Court has ruled. The decision will give the anti-immigration Freedom Party's narrowly defeated candidate Norbert Hofer another chance to become the first far-right head of state in the European Union. http://www.itv.com/news/2016-07-01/...-off-election-must-be-held-again-court-rules/
Going to a Labour Party meeting tonight. What were those gloves that our Russian friends wore for their sporting encounter with England? Could all get bloody!
George Osborne is retracting his target of government surplus by 2020, and easing austerity cuts. Does this mean the message has finally got through? That they can't keep underfunding public services etc.?
No it means that the Cameronites are backing continuity Theresa May who yesterday said she would be doing this.
Oh dear: Tony Blair hints at role as Brexit negotiator in EU talks that will require 'serious statesmanship' http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...role-as-brexit-negotiator-in-eu-talks-that-w/
What would be so bad about this? I'm genuinely curious as I wasn't really interested in politics until 2010 and never really understood the Blair hate (other than foreign policy).
I know I do write some long posts but to explain the Blair hate would take me hours. You would be better researching why. Social media would help you greatly. Chilcott will also help you but to sum it up in a forum would take pages of posts.
Well I've had a reasonably good understanding of politics since the 1970's and I've never quite understood the absolute hatred of Tony Blair. I think a lot of people jumped on bandwagons, and most of it is about the Iraq War, where ironically, many Iraqis wanted the West to get rid of Saddam Hussein. And the UK has never been a country which stands aside. I also hate to think what the USA would have done without the UK being there as a restraining hand. Aside from that, Blair was actually a rather good centralist Prime Minister. He got Labour elected, allowing them to favour the working people, rather than give tax breaks to the comfortably off. He also got them re-elected. He made Britain actually feel good about itself for a while. There have been plenty of Prime Ministers who have done worse. He paid a heavy price for the Iraq War, and Labour have never quite been the same since they turned on him. But British Prime Ministers tend to be remembered for one single action, whatever their other achievements.
This afternoon, I had a message from a relative who works in the Foreign Office. It seems that talking publicly about the EU referendum is now, for them, a sackable offence. Nice.
'The Brexit Plan' has finally been proposed and is open to the public online here. http://thebrexitplan.com
