Given the unusual events playing out this week I write this short  piece to give people an opportunity to send in their views. I am consulting widely on what should now happen.
I am strongly of the view that the issue of leadership has to be resolved by the Conservative Parliamentary party. An early General election is not in the national interest. We need urgent Ministerial action to promote growth and tackle the cost of living crisis. There is a majority to do what needs doing.
July 7, 2022
I do not believe a General Election would be popular. We don’t need more chaos, just sensible actions on the economy.
July 7, 2022
Like Sir John you know that his excuse-for-a-party would be out on their ears, and deservedly so for a very, very long time.
July 7, 2022
I think the Tories will actually win the next election, this as no sensible voter (especially English voters) will want even more taxation, more regulation, more EU, a new Scottish referendum, even more socialism and even more expensive energy net zero lunacy. This is what they would get from Starmer, Sturgeon and the LibDims/Plaid/Green loons.
Two idiotic lies or delusion in Borisâs leaving speech:- 1. Talent is distributed evenly across the country but opportunities are not – total drivel Boris neither is distributed evenly & 2. Our peerless civil service – âpeerlessâ they are vastly expensive, far too many of them and as a team they are almost always breathtakingly incompetent at delivering even vague competence or value. Look at the energy lunacy or the appalling NHS still pushing dangerous and ineffective vaccines (even at children) and with 6.5 million suffering while awaiting urgent surgery & treatments.
July 7, 2022
LL,
The Tories are done. Major sums up the fantatic EU mentality of remainers in this now useless socialist party. They were give four chances to act on the will of the people and four times deliberately failed. Cameron ran away rather than deliver on the public mandate, May used every deceitful treacherous act she could to defy the will of the people.
Johnson was given a golden ticket to deceiver on what he said. He was viewed as a Trojan willing to stand up against the corrupt dishonest self serving parliament to deliver the will of the people. He was given a resounding mandate across the country, across class ethnicity and creed, for what they believed to be a person acting in patriotic interest of his country and people.
Then he got married and had a brain transplant and went against everything he wrote and preached about. What a tragic waste.
Javid sums up the snake in grass attitude of parliament, already trying to pr9mote his best interest when he does not have the presence of mind to realise how incompetent he performed in every role he was given. The Tory quota system does not work and will not work. It creates resentment belittles those from minority backgrounds who are talented, as we saw with Mrs Thatcher way before cultural Marxist wokery embedded in public services by revolting Blaire.
The affront that JR thinks it is up to him and his likes rather than the people to choose its national leader shows how little he learnt in the last 12 years! Especially when parliament was defying the will of the people over Brexit. Let alone his full time in parliament. Again summing up the arrogant thought they know best.
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
Deluded! NLH
Ring the bell and Matron will bring uou a pack of cards.
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
I agree. The Conservative Party is the largest in the Commons and they are the ones to select their leader who is Prime Minister. It’s the MPs who are elected by the people, not the PM.
July 7, 2022
but the local members with ‘approval’ by Central Office put the names forward to be MP for the electors. Flawed judgement very often.
July 8, 2022
Well exactly MT, also Rayner’s line that Boris is engulfed in sleaze and she can’t have another couple of months of this, is ridiculous, the sleaze that is around him is the rest of the party, elected by the public to achieve the promises 2019 manifesto. If the Tories don’t collectively bite back against this just to get rid of Boris, then you all deserve what is coming.
July 7, 2022
That is exactly what is so wrong. The PM ought to be elected by the people. Also the PM and cabinet should not be MPs. These are demands of the Harrogate Agenda.
July 7, 2022
I see Boris also referred in his speech to the âFantastic NHSâ what on earth does he mean? Perhaps the one that cost a fortune and kills so many with incompetence, has ÂŁ6.5m on waiting lists, dire maternity care, infects hundreds of thousands while on hospital and cannot even give prompt scans & specialists to those they have given myocarditis/rapid heart beat problems? He is also proud of âdelivering the fastest vaccine rollout in Europeâ except the statistics now rather suggest the vaccines were neither very effective nor very safe. They probably did more net harm than good, certainly for the young and children. At least he did not trump his insane policies of net zero, robbing motorist & landlords, manifesto ratting, the moronic HS2, and his vast tax increases.
What was missing from his speech was any thank you to the circa 80% who work in the private sector and suffer the highest taxes for 70 years, endless over regulation, rip off energy, net zero and endless other exploitation from government. This where being given appalling, largely worthless and second rate public services in return.
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
+999
July 7, 2022
Not even that really given the FPTP electoral system the Parties select the candidate the voters get a choice of two or perhaps three that have any chance and choose the least bad option. Plus they lie before the election and then just rat on promises and manifestos directly after the election. Not very much democracy here at all.
July 7, 2022
LL,
Reform party or nothing for me. The least worse no longer is a vote winner. Economics would put the Tories in last position, question of fact and record. Johnson should have been ruthless and got rid of May and her supporters from the party, if possible create law to expel from the country.
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
This defenestration is certainly unusual.
I suppose if he does not go soon the 1922 may have a rule change for another vote of confidence which he may lose and would then have to go.
If he can get another general election authorised he may prefer a Samson moment to bring everything crashing down around him. Apres moi le deluge !
July 7, 2022
The game is up. In the interests of the country a change of leader is required.
July 7, 2022
The game is up. In the interests of the country, the long term corruption story needs to be told.
July 7, 2022
Beloved Zelensky will be available very shortly.Nicely pressed combat fatigues optional.
July 7, 2022
Yes Iâve always worried what he would do in his last days. He likes banning things- maybe all ICE car use from 2030? But yes calling a general election would be vindictive a la Gordon Brown increasing the marginal rate of income tax in his final days
July 7, 2022
Looks like, despite resignation, he may remain in post for several months during which time he can do considerable damage
July 7, 2022
And fulfil his promise to lower taxes .
July 7, 2022
that was only a manifesto promise…so doesn’t count
July 7, 2022
+many
Or possibly, in this case âPendant moiâ?
July 7, 2022
We need a leader who puts UK interests, and Brexit, first. Not the EU, not Ukraine, not economic migrants, not glory seeking on the world stage, not personal or party interests, just the UK and her people. Some honesty and positive action regarding conservative manifesto policies would also be welcome (barring net zero which is an impossible dream anyway).
Do not fail Brexit for a fourth time (Cameron, May, Boris being the first three). We want our country back!
July 7, 2022
FANTASTIC post.
Cometh the moment, cometh the man/woman, let’s hope…
July 7, 2022
Hear, hear Shirley M, a hundred times!
No general election, just a conservative, Conservative leadership!
Is Lord Frost able to take the role of PM? Iâve no doubt he has the strength of character to engage a strong team of cabinet members and advisers. Is it possible?
However, I still worry about the grandee remainers circling like vulturesâŠ.
July 7, 2022
The dream interim ticket would be Steve Baker as interim PM and Mr Redwood interim Chancellor. Hope springs eternal!
July 7, 2022
Tory MPs voting for that? – in your dreams. The people might however.
July 7, 2022
Gets my vote
July 7, 2022
Other way round. John Redwood for Prime Minister and possibly Steve Baker for Chancellor. John
Redwood would be better at the job of actually being Prime Minister than any of the other possible candidates. Tragically the by far best person for winning the next election is the person Conservative M.Ps have in a fit of collective madness just thrown out, Boris Johnson. There has not in modern history, perhaps in all British history been a more naturally talented politician as Prime Minister than Boris Johnson.
That said, I very much hope John Redwood stands for Prime Minister as he would be very much better for Britain than any of the other possible candidates.
July 7, 2022
Sharon – Heseltine – “Speaking to Times Radio, Lord Heseltine said: “I coined the phrase: ‘if Boris goes, Brexit goes….”And now as Brexit depended entirely on the duplicity with which Boris conducted the referendum, the whole argument about Britain in Europe is now up for grabs….But the Brexiteers without Boris are losers. And the first thing that one has got try and do is to regain the international respect for this country and the trust of the British people. And youâre not going to do that if youâre going to get ranting on about Europeans or Brussels bureaucracy.”
July 7, 2022
Precisely – well said. Tory governments have serially lost their way.
July 7, 2022
Shirley
+1
Not much to add to that.
The fact that Boris still does not get it, proves he is deluded.
Shame, so many hopes, chances and false dawns.
July 7, 2022
I think he does get it and sees pettiness for what it is but doesn’t see that democracy includes many unintelligent self interested herders.
July 7, 2022
And immediately the news presenters talk of democracy as being something Which happens in HP .If you listen to the views of the herding voters and the opinions of these voters one can see how out of touch they are with social mechanisms and a reasoned approach to apply a utilitarian principle in difficult times
July 7, 2022
Margaret
Boris was not bought down by mistakes, but by the telling lies and avoidance of any sort of sensible explanation.
Intelligent people are aware that people make errors of judgement, and they are prepared to forgive (more than once) if a sensible and timely explanation is given.
Boris did the complete opposite, he tried Bluff, Delay and outright Lies, and that is not acceptable as a Prime Minister because Trust has then evaporated, and that is why he had to go.
July 8, 2022
But Alan, my sentence did not focus on Boris but rather other voters. This is the mistake many make putting down their own interpretation rather than what is written.
As far as Boris is concerned , I simply do not believe opinion : I prefer truth . At on time I was accepted into Barrister training . I couldn’t afford it and have seen since that sway and corruption have more weight, which is why I turned to ethics to gain a better insight into truth.
July 7, 2022
Agree â it no good just changing the leader if the new leader continues with the same insane policies
July 7, 2022
Exactly right, Glen.
We can look forward to no media discussion of that crucial issue.
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
Ukraine is very different to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Pootin is a dangerous leader and he could wreck havoc in Eastern Europe which would ultimately affect us in the long run. You can’t ignore geopolitics on your doorstep (although we should never have gone to war in Afghanistan and Iraq which I argued strongly against at time. Plus they are not on our doorstep). Not saying go to war in Ukraine. Of course not. But we got to be focused on ensuring that Pooting does not win.
July 7, 2022
If you care to look at an atlas, Ed, you’ll see that Ukraine is not on our doorstep either.
It is however on Russia’s doorstep.
July 7, 2022
I been to Ukraine, sir! I know where it is ..
July 8, 2022
I see. Well, if you have a 1,500 mile ‘doorstep’, it can’t have taken you long!
July 7, 2022
Consider the phrase ‘Intercontinental ballistic missiles’. We are all neighbours now.
JF
July 7, 2022
+1
When we were under the jackboot of the EU our government could not do much as more and more power went to Brussels. We gave them the tools to govern after 2016 and they have not bothered to pick them up and use them. They do not want to do the job we elected them to do – ie GOVERN
July 7, 2022
+1
July 8, 2022
Quite right, Shirley!
In my opinion, we elect Politicians to serve the interests of this Country, first and last. I am totally fed up with the mantra that we have a âmoral responsibilityâ to everyone else. We are giving shedloads of taxpayers money away, without so much as a by your leave, and then we are told to tighten our belts.
In my opinion, Boris is not wicked, he is just weak. Under the slightest pressure, he caved in, and that was another few billion!. No wonder the rest of the world sees us as a soft touch.
It seems to me that this Country is being run by vacuous âcelebritiesâ and sportsmen, not to mention the Media, and the ordinary voters opinion doesn’t count. Enough!!!
July 7, 2022
OK, Iâll say it: Johnson is off his rocker â and should not now be trusted with the deterrent. HMTQ now needs to dust off that Gough Whitlam file, call in the PM, and then sack him. Dominic Raab can hold the fort until a leadership contest can be held.
July 7, 2022
what could be worse? A chance to unify current MPs on what has to be done – yes DONE in order to win back the likely hordes defecting to any rag tag parties at the GE.
July 7, 2022
Agreed S_W
July 7, 2022
I believe that what needs doing is for the Conservative Party to revert to being a Conservative Party.
July 7, 2022
Agreed, James. It’s the policies that matter, not the personalities. Once again this country’s future is being decided by talking heads in the media and personal tittle tattle.
As a matter of interest, can anyone familiar with Parliamentary procedure tell me why Claudia Webbe MP, convicted of violent assault, is still allowed to sit in the House of Commons?
July 7, 2022
Richard because she’s Ex-Labour and not Ex-Tory.
July 7, 2022
There should be a law that, if an MP is convicted of a serious offence they must stand for reelection.
July 7, 2022
Electors are not sure what that is anymore.
July 7, 2022
But what will happen (looking at the dire likely replacements) is it will go incompletely the wrong direction. More EU, more green crap, more manifesto ratting tax increases and even more government waste.
July 7, 2022
I couldn’t agree more, Lifelogic!
This is not a day for rejoicing as things are going to go downhill rapidly hereon.
July 7, 2022
+ 1 James 1
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
It is unedifying Sir John, there is more than a hint of Gordon Brown clinging on about it.
Your party will not be judged well by these events, however good the theatre on TV. The moment for the Prime Minister to resign came when interviewed by Chris Morris when asked why the story on what he knew about the sexual harassment charges had changed so many times and the Prime Minister floundered because he knew he had been found out.
I could forgive the parties, I could forgive lying, I can forgive appointing a predator of men to a senior role. What I can’t forgive is incompetence. Lying so blatantly about matters in the public record is incompetent. Net-zero and in particular outsourcing net-zero to other countries is incompetent. Our handling of legal and illegal immigration is incompetent. Raising taxes in a recession is incompetent. The withdrawal agreement and its fallout is incompetent.
This administration has been a litany of incompetence and its time must be at an end. The cabinet ministers still supporting the Prime Minister must surely be signing their political death notes and the Conservative party will not recover electorally for many, many years however good their opposition becomes, they will not be trusted.
Your administration and party Sir John is pining for the fjords.
July 7, 2022
Apart from delivering a slightly better BRINO+ than May attempted to foist on us, Johnson conned the electorate. He campaigned as a low-tax, libertarian-conservative but no sooner had he got Brexit over the line he morphed into an authoritarian who governed as a high-tax, high-spending socialist-Eco loony.
Whoever replaces Johnson must be a genuine Conservative who believes in a small state and low-taxes and will do what is necessary to deliver them: reform the Civil Service; deregulate and cut the Quangos. And we cannot afford the Net Zero lunacy. We need honesty about the impracticality of relying on windmills and solar panels to power a 21st century economy and the Green Lobby must be taken on. We must use our own oil, coal and gas reserves and start fracking.
I will not vote for any candidate which supports the Net Zero lunacy.
July 7, 2022
They all support it. The brainwashing is almost complete.
July 7, 2022
Then none of them will get my vote.
July 7, 2022
Steve Baker would dismantle it. But he’s outnumbered. Most are Bright Blue dimwit.
July 10, 2022
But are you sure that the country (not this blogâs contributors obviously) would not prefer a âBright Blueâ PM to a radical national-populist one? Just a question.
July 7, 2022
If we ordinary members are faced with the choice between two supporters of a level playing field with the EU, green religion worship and a rabbit in the headlights approach to illegal immigration, we may have to spoil our ballot papers by writing in the name of a principled individual who does not appear upon it. David Frost? Stave Baker? Our esteemed host?
July 7, 2022
Talking of Net Zero lunacy,The Sirius Report tweets this morning:
“When reality finally kicks in.
Head of Bundestag Committee on Energy,Klaus Ernst,has called for negotiations to begin to commence gas flows via Nord Stream II.”
July 7, 2022
Take a look at the chart for the I yr fwd baseload electricity price in Germany;it’s been under or about 50 euros/megawat hr for most of the past decade-it’s now c340-the chart practically defines the word exponential.German industry will be destroyed.
As a Business New Europe commentator said this morning:”Germany discovering in real time that you can print Euros but you can’t print watts.”
July 7, 2022
About time too.
July 7, 2022
Well, apart from our kind host and maybe one or two others I am afraid those type of Tories are rather thin on the ground.
July 7, 2022
I couldn’t support nor vote for any party that has policies of Net-Zero
July 7, 2022
Iâd support any leadership candidate that (a) didnât vote remain, (b) who hasnât served in the Boris cabinet and (c) is willing to repeal the climate change act
July 7, 2022
Given Bojoâs foolish stance, can not the Party commence a leadership contest immediately – without waiting for his departure – in order that a functional government may be readied a swiftly as possible?
July 7, 2022
Key thing is to organise and know who comes next. Another May/Gove/Liddington/Green type cabal would set us back and be a disaster. Most of those in senior positions such as Sunak/Zahawi/Gove/Truss completely useless.
Get the few real deal people together to take over. Yourself, Steve Baker, David Davis, Braverman, Cummings back would work wonders to root out the traitors and move us forward.
July 7, 2022
You want a government led by half a dozen people opposed by the rest of the Tory MPs.
July 7, 2022
Sometimes democracy Lenin-style is what’s needed.
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
+ 1
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
Sir John Redwood is the only Tory from this list who the public would accept in a senior position of power such as Chancellor, Foreign Office or PM.
I’d go for Sir John Redwood as Chancellor, Wallace as Foreign Secretary and Sunak as PM (whatever some Tories think of him, I think he would be most popular with the voters and that is important. He’s not stupid either and although young and fairly inexperienced I believe would learn quickly.
July 7, 2022
(And I agree, Sunak has to be persuaded about the necessity of tax reductions which is why you need a Chancellor such as Sir John Redwood. Wallace I think, as Foreign Secretary, best option to deal with war in Ukraine.)
July 7, 2022
We cannot ‘deal with the war in Ukraine’, Ed. It is following its inevitable course. Neither NATO support for Kiev nor sanctions on Russia are having the intended effect, and Ukraine is losing terrritory and high numbers of soldiers.
What we can deal with is the huge amounts of our money we are throwing down the pan by backing the losing side in the war, so prolonging it and indirectly contributing to more death and destruction. A courageous new Prime Minister would tackle the problem by encouraging Zelensky to seek a cease-fire now, while he still has something to negotiate with. Unfortunately it looks at the moment as if Johnson will stay in power for months despite resigning as Conservative party leader, which I find incongruous.
July 7, 2022
No way, sir.
If Pootin succeeds in Ukraine, then most likely he will push on into the Balkans, and then perhaps into the rest of Eastern Europe until he has re-established the old Soviet empire in Europe—–plunging Eastern Europe into long-term chaos and decline. With, no doubt, a new wave of immigrants into the UK but costing the UK far more in other ways too.
Being focused on a strong, prosperous Europe makes far more sense then focusing on Afghanistan and Iraq which our UK Parliament supported by a significant majority (only 6 Tories voted against Iraq and Afghanistan).
Lastly, in the daft Afghanistan and Iraq war we lost around 650 SOLDIERS in Afghanistan and Iraq (plus all those wounded) and costing around ÂŁ30 billion.
Pootin has to be defeated. Moreover. At some point in the future, Russia could become a full democracy, with its economy working for its people, and close security relations with the West. Please God.
July 7, 2022
WWIII here we come.
July 7, 2022
I don’t understand Sunak. Says he’s a low tax Tory, but the only thing low tax about him is his wife. A loser.
July 7, 2022
When you are Chancellor, having a mega-wealthy wife make use of Non Dom status to restrict her tax liability looks pretty stupid to me.
The excuses given included the fact that they did not see the UK as their ultimate home. Announcing that, when you are clearly after the Top Job, also seems pretty dense.
July 7, 2022
Thanks Donna.This non Dom status is rife and a move in the UK take over.The trust for nice sounding people is blinding so many to reality.
July 7, 2022
Well said (I forgot this)
July 7, 2022
The Left of the Tory Party has been running things since Mrs.T left office. And look where it got them ! Time for the Right of the party to reassert itself.
July 7, 2022
I think half the difference between the Right and Left is that the Right want to do things a lot quicker. It’s all about how much sugar and medicine you give to the patient.
A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down (where as Labour just want to dole out the sugar).
Personally, I think I’m quite right wing (right wing Tory) but I prefer the slower approach (left wing Tory). Take Brexit for example. I’ve always support Brexit in theory but a slower approach (i.e. we plan for it properly with a proper leader).
July 7, 2022
All those who promoted the lying spoilt tyrant to number 10 need to be held culpable at the next ballot box.
You have all disgraced our country.
July 7, 2022
I think the electorate is quite sharp these days and will vote them out
If the PM does not resign shortly on moral and integrity grounds, I m afraid this will reflect badly on the Conservative party.
July 7, 2022
I think history proves the Electorate has a very short memory – and more voters are suffering from onset of dementia and indifference.
July 7, 2022
But do you not think that it is suspicious that Sunak resigns a couple of days before the ministerial exit putting him in a position to be a possible candidate for leader something Raab will not be able to do.To me it seems to have been fixed
July 7, 2022
Indeed. From an entitled, Kennedy type clan.
July 8, 2022
RM, Yes, and particularly those among the 92,153 CUP members who chose BJ because he was âfunâ.
GP, I hope you are right.
MT, unfortunately very true.
Mbj, yes, what about a good new conspiracy theory?
NLA: see Mbj.
July 7, 2022
A GE where a quasi-Labour Tory party (that has the country in tatters) runs against the massed forces of the left would lose to the massed forces of the left.
No GE and a new Tory party with right wing policies that gives its all for the next 2 years…Good for the country, maybe they’d get re-elected.
July 7, 2022
the only chance they have.
July 7, 2022
The only alternative to Boris is I think Lord Frost because he is the one person whose attitude to the problems of an incomplete Brexit are known. There may be clarity within the ERG but their views are factional. We need, and urgently, a return to Conservatism which has been sadly lacking in this Parliament
July 7, 2022
Conservatism is about stability, pragmatism and rejecting ideology and leaps in the dark. No true Conservative voted for Brexit
July 7, 2022
Len
By your logic, no Conservative could ever have voted to join the EEC or the European Union then.
July 7, 2022
Logic is not part of his thinking.
July 7, 2022
Len Peel :
EU membership is the ultimate leap in the dark as we would have no control at all over our laws, taxes and policies.
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
This is all about reversing, Brexit.
Watch out for a dripping wet limp dumb pair of candidates being offered to the membership.
The public aren’t stupid but Boris doesn’t help himself
At least we’ll be rid of the deputy Prime Minister nur nut. That’s no bad thing.
July 7, 2022
So we have 3 months of navel gazing and infighting in the tory party.
It’s going to be interesting to follow the stitch up to place a WEF remainer as PM.
It looks like our hard won freedom from the clutches of Brussels will be lost and hopefully you’ll be consigned to opposition for a generation.
Betrayal will not be forgiven.
July 7, 2022
Ian Wragg – “all about reversing Brexit.”
What Brexit ? Boris was already reversing it but in the most underhanded way possible.
The Tories need to put an proper Brexit Tory in place now.
July 7, 2022
This is highly probable – reversing Brexit is still the aim of a great many remainers and getting rid of Boris is the first step. He has not helped himself by ignoring manifesto commitments in favour net zero, high taxes etc. A replacement PM will have to be a strong enough character to stand up up to the Civil Service and the remainer faction. Difficult to think of anyone who would fit the bill in the list of possible contenders for the job,
July 7, 2022
It is very shocking indeed that this Big Media Coup, American style, is finally being carried out after six years of relentless anti democratic behaviour on the part of the media and political class, and that the Gadarene Swine, formerly known as the Disorderly Rabble, formerly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, have been so easily manipulated.
The PM’s argument is correct: he got the mandate, and if he were ousted, whoever inherited the situation after three months of chaos, would be under relentless pressure to ask the Queen for a dissolution. We have all seen what media pressure can do. And we have all seen how they have perfected their methods of election interference.
Sorry, no positive advice at all. Everyone is behaving as expected. Democracy is eating itself and the Russians and Chinese are looking on.
July 7, 2022
rose, Boris did get the mandate but then he allowed Sunak to break it by rising taxes to all-time highest levels (funny how Boris gets pressured to leave just as the rebate for the majority kicks in this month) with a promise to whack business to stop them investing until someone like him takes over from Boris!
Boris overturned net zero from 2050 to 2030, (we are told by pressure from Carrie but more likely to buy favour with the global elites) and put undue and immediate pressure on the UK.
Boris is the one spending millions and millions more than the rest of Europe in the Ukraine, why aren’t they all stepping up a % of their GDP why only the UK and the USA?
These Tories that want to outvote Boris will all be losers because Labour will then start relentless pressure for a general election, the terminating traitors are the ones with the detonator in their hands, not Boris. Although I do have the picture of Ledger’s Joker in the hospital scene.
July 7, 2022
Why aren’t they pouring a higher % of their GDP into Ukraine, A-Tracy? Surely for the obvious reason, because they don’t the war to continue.
And because they, or at least some of them, understand sanctions are wrecking their economies.
July 7, 2022
So they want the Ukraine to give in to Putin and give up the land so they can get their Russian imports again. Why not just come out and say that then Richard? They want to be appeasers and the appeasers in the Second World War just got subsumed. Then theyâll hope heâll stop at Romania, or Hungary, what will stop him when he gets to the German border if appeasing a bully who is prepared to kill children, women the old and infirm? Will they expect us to step up and help them then too. If they properly gave the fair share of their GDP and help it would be over now and Putin pushed back.
July 8, 2022
You’re saying that, not me, A-Tracy. Unlike you, some of them at least haven’t swallowed the ‘Putin = Hitler’ nonsense and understand that this is not WW II. People like you who seem to think it is might yet give us WW III, however.
July 8, 2022
Now you are putting words in my mouth Richard, personally, if we are not part of a full and even agreement over the Ukraine and Putin is going to be gifted this land anyway by a lack of European financial and otherwise support I would rather we didn’t stand alone as a saviour that isn’t going anywhere. Following America (when Biden disrespects the UK at every turn) never seems to do us any good like any of those wars Blair took us into.
I don’t think Putin is a Hitler but we are told by our press that he is killing the elderly and infirm, women and innocent children in order to take land that isn’t Russias, where do you draw the line of this?
July 7, 2022
Be fair. 5 minutes after getting in we had a pandemic that, at first, looked like it might kill millions. I hate to say it but I thought that, on the whole, it was handled pretty well. I expected the Tories in power to let people lose their jobs and starve – but they didnât.
July 8, 2022
Fair? Even Labour said it was the wrong time to raise taxes and was in stark contrast to the EU who were stimulating their economies with extra investment. He put up Corporation tax higher than the EU and the USA he isn’t a conservative chancellor at all he is a wolf.
July 7, 2022
Thank you Rose. All the vacant posts ..The large salaries not to be paid. Mm something fishy. Views on the street .I don’t like 6ft men with good suits! No these petty views are over shadowing a cutting down of the civil servants Which was probably on the cards.
July 7, 2022
prefer blue overalls and dirty boots? – as a female said to me many years ago ! I still think it hilarious.
July 7, 2022
Rose
R & C looking on.
With very big smiles on their faces
July 7, 2022
Assad must go!Putin must go!Xi must go!
Instead they are busily-and rapidly- reorganizing the world trade and finacial system to exclude the dollar and western trade intermediaries.Impoverishment is on the way for the west…doesn’t matter who the next PM of the UK is.Just another mindless reality show for the dummed down masses.
July 7, 2022
Rose,
The only mandate Boris Johnson got directly from the people of the UK was being elected as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip with 25,351 people voting for him. His mandate to be Prime Minister came from the elected Conservative MPs, who could have withdrawn that mandate at any time.
He has directly brought the office of UK Prime Minister in to disrepute and done unimaginable ongoing damage to the Conservative party
July 7, 2022
KD, +âŸïž
July 7, 2022
People will forget Boris in 5 minutes. He was a lapse best forgotten, to quote Crooks Anonymous. What a film. What a cast. Wilfred Hyde White at his best.
July 8, 2022
I disagree KD, Boris was the face of the 2019 election, his manifesto promises were supported by many people who usually supported different parties. They will openly tell you they voted for Boris and his manifesto, not their local candidate whose name they don’t even know.
July 7, 2022
If the economy were going well and Boris hadn’t ruined our energy and made it worse through Ukraine the Big Media Coup would not have been possible.
Alas yes. The BBC controls the 24 hour news agenda and Boris was slave to it. That’s why he’s been the worst PM we’ve ever had. A complete disaster of a man in terms of his personal life, his own health (rarely have we seen a PM look so unfit, unkempt and sickly and at such a young age) and in his leadership of the country.
July 8, 2022
NLA, What Big Media Coup? The BMC is the latest fad that you are swallowing hook line and sinker. So did about 60 people (Ministers, PPS and trade envoys) and many MPs not condemn Johnson?
And according to you and a few other rosy trumpinouchettes here, it is all the fault of the BMC. Not surprising that the country is going to the dogs with this type of political understanding.
July 7, 2022
Boris needs to be replaced as PM via a leadership election. Almost any candidate who wins will implement policies which are more Conservative than Boris. Except Hunt.
July 7, 2022
I agree regarding Mr Hunt – another Mrs May but without the charisma!.
He always looks as though he does not know what is going on, nor what to say. Then speaks and confirms it – to paraphrase Mr Thatcher.
July 7, 2022
1. Your view is correct: no election, Party to resolve now.
2. We are not going to see the people’s Blue Boris again, are we?
3. Mr. Corbyn’s tenacity worked as he could by-pass his MPs by involving his fan base in the membership: Boris is denied a similar lifeline.
4. It would be very bad indeed to see some remoaner quisling in charge.
July 7, 2022
but can we trust the weak wet CV seeking Tory MPs anymore? Many were to chicken to stand up – they watched as a fruit and nut case played havoc with the nation in so many ways. At least 100 of them must not be supported in the next GE. We have to wonder at the decisions to approve so many sheep into Westinster.
July 7, 2022
oops dodgy keyboard playing tricks again. I must read back before sending.
July 7, 2022
A truer word never said
July 7, 2022
Mr Corbyn’s character was assassinated for exactly the same reason the PM’s has been: to get him out and put in an EU enthusiast. The object is to have both parties led by rejoiners.
July 7, 2022
At least Corbyn was genuinely anti-EU.
July 7, 2022
So was all the Labour party before Blair
July 7, 2022
No, it is because they were both utterly useless, both utterly dishonest, and did not have the UK’s interests as their priority. They each handed out the ammunition for their own firing squad.
July 7, 2022
Boris Johnson must be forced out without further delay and the new PM must have the TOTAL support of Conservative MPs and those that cannot must leave and represent their Constituents as ‘Independents’. Quite rightly we have done more for Ukraine than any other Country BUT the time has come to concentrate on our own Country and our people. By all means ramp up expenditure on our own Armed Forces giving them what they need so that when challenged we can defend OURSELVES rigourously. As for the rest THEY have to take care of themselves. Look more closely at China and it’s infiltration into our Commercial sector here and get TOUGH with them when we need to and also with their Scientists working in sensitive areas in the Defense Industry ( why are they there actually!). Also Students
at our Universities who also do their Government’s bidding. There is too much going on with China and it’s political ambitions in our Country detrimental to our security and safety and we need a tough PM and cabinet to watchdog China’s ambitions here and terminate visa accordingly. Due to the state of our economy it should be ‘Britain First’ and we need a PM that will put our people first!
July 7, 2022
Jumeirah
Well said.
It’s high noon and one of the first thing needed is to get all the elected tories to totally commit to Brexit or walk away. People like this have got to be totally honest to themselves, the electorate and the new PM.
The new PM needs to be of the older school type with experience, street and business wise, respected and honourable. Not taken in by all these hair brained schemes that are destroying us. We have had the younger generation now let’s get the real conservatives back no more talking just plenty of action. The next two years must not be a sanctuary for cosseted remainers.
July 7, 2022
+ many, turbo
July 7, 2022
Sky currently saying that PM is working on a reshuffle but he doesn’t seem to have a full deck of 52 cards to shuffle after resignations.
He has become a complete laughing stock and the men needed are in white coats, not grey suits, while he is taken away Trump-like pointing and saying “you’re fired, you’re fired, you’re……”.
As with Michael Howard it appears to be a simple solution to get a replacement immediately but unfortunately there still seem to be a lot of Remainers within the Parliamentary party which doesn’t reflect either the views of the party membership nor the people who voted Conservative at the last election.
July 7, 2022
“We need urgent Ministerial action to promote growth and tackle the cost of living crisis.” – we do, for the Sunak Slump is upon us! And Ministers of talent, understanding, vision and drive – unlike so many of Boris’s no-hopers.
July 7, 2022
I second that statement, F57
July 7, 2022
There is no justification at all for a general election, there is a working majority. All thatâs needed is a leader who will make a proper, organised, attempt to implement the manifesto which won that majority in 2019. The names coming up as the most popular among members do not inspire confidence, some of the utterances of those people reveal them to be rather dim. So a better idea is MPs make the choice, in the old way. They will do so with the preservation of their seats in mind, which is whatâs needed.
The irony is that amidst the chaos and absurdity there are some very recent signs of Boris Johnson getting a grip on policy. But as weâve seen it could change in an instant if he thinks thereâs a popularity boost in just reversing it. Time for a change, I have been expecting this for some months now, and over the summer is the least disruptive time to do it. There is still time to win the next election, Starmer is hopeless, thereâs no one else remotely credible on the Labour front bench if Starmer does, ludicrously, find himself forced to resign over beergate. And they have no discernible policies other than the windfall tax.
(i see also that the secret lib-lab pact with PR and a surreptitious return to the single market, which Iâve also been expecting for months, is now out in the open).
July 7, 2022
We watch the attempt to steal Johnson’s majority by parasites within. Parasites who have no mandate with the electorate. Another assault on the democratic process.
July 7, 2022
He has to go and quickly. He is doing massive harm to the party with the overwhelming majority of the UK public having lost all confidence and trust in him.
July 7, 2022
I think this is greatly exaggerated. Boris is still hugely popular with voters. He knows this and this is why he’s been laying hard into the Westminister Bubble trying to bring him down (and finally succeeded).
July 7, 2022
A strong leader needs both the qualities of 1) Attention to detail / hard worker 2) Charisma and visionary.
Boris is definitely the second. You get lots of the first type. But very few of the second. And when you get the second type, you need to give them a chance as they can transform the country in an interesting way.
On the other hand, Labour as so weak at moment, perhaps Boris’ position not as strong as he thinks (?)
July 7, 2022
Iâd just settle for competent manager, an adequate leader and above all someone who isnât a celebrate
July 7, 2022
Plus one
July 7, 2022
But GYGES, each of those you sadly mistake as having no mandate have the same mandate from their constituency voters, no different in anyway to the voters at Uxbridge you mistakenly attribute to Boris.
Its the conservative party who got the big mandate, not the PM, deluded!
July 7, 2022
He should stand again.
John Major did so, why not him?
When he wins those who couldn’t support him should go to the Chiltern hundreds.
July 7, 2022
My daydreams.
I would like to see a real leader from the right of the party, which would hardly be far right! Someone prepared to ditch most of the unaffordable net zero policies. Remove all subsidies on wind, solar, ev’s etc. and cancel HS2.
How about a government prepared to cancel NI rises, reduce tax and cut VAT.
The next government should be MUCH smaller. The size of the payroll is beyond rediculous. Cuts are required.
Reduce the size of the state!
Reduce illegal and legal immigration.
July 7, 2022
Spot On
July 7, 2022
Cutting VAT substantially and simplifying the tax, preferably taking some transactions outside the scope completely, would be an excellent move. Any Government taking us back into the EU would be faced with having to explain why they are increasing VAT to make it conform with EU law.
July 7, 2022
Ministers need to stop resigning. It is not the answer when the country faces serious problems. Those problems need to be faced. Pincher is not the issue.
July 7, 2022
how else to remove the warped head of the beast?
July 7, 2022
Omg how will teachers cope without an education minister!!!
July 7, 2022
no doubt take an early afternoon….and employ a trans theatre group to explain the event to the kids
July 8, 2022
dont think the heads would allow that.
July 7, 2022
Yesterday I wrote to my MP Leo Docherty saying precisely that. He has been one eyed in his support for Boris but now is the time to put the country first. An election would see the Tory Party shredded.
The actions Boris are only desperate measures to try and protect himself. As Petronella Wyatt said yesterday, and she should know, he is pathologically wedded to the idea that he should ârule the worldâ hence zero shame, humility etc. it is everyone elseâs fault and we are seeing that play out. Thatâs why he has never truly apologised for anything. His classics master said he believed he was of a different world allowing him to ignore the conventions that shape the rest of us.
You need Government lawyers to make certain a âderangedâ PM cannot take every else down, in his mind, as punishment for not supporting him.
As an aside his cabinet to a person are utterly shameful for letting it get this far. Weak, desperately trying not to look disloyal whilst jockeying for position, leaking etc and actually not doing very good day jobs, accepting a total ripping up of their manifesto and the Tory ethos low tax, efficient spending etc.
July 7, 2022
The leader of your party and Prime Minister has been shown to be untrustworthy, lacking integrity, unprincipled and frankly unfit for office. This has been evident all this year but Conservative MPs have defended him. The majority even voted recently that they had confidence in him. As such they have put their own integrity and competence in question. I have repeatedly written here that this is the worst government and House of Commons in my lifetime and we now have a complete shambles and potential constitutional crisis. Johnson must resign and a new leader elected. What happens after that depends on who you choose or perhaps the global puppet masters have other plans to replace this crumbling democracy?
July 7, 2022
I agree with you up to a point and The Parliamentary Party has already and recently decided to express confidence in the PM. I believe this should now be resolved in the same way that the leader was elected, organise a postal ballot of the whole membership.
I should declare that I am not a Conservative Party member but I am an electoral supporter.
I should to add that my Wife and I watched the Liaison Committee session on TV.
We were disgusted and distressed at this appalling spectacle. We have concluded that the only difference between this meeting and a Kangaroo Court was that a Conviction and Sentence was not handed down. If Members of Parliament cannot treat each other with respect and equanimity, how on Earth can the Electorate feel confident that they will be.
July 7, 2022
Itâs all beyond farce now. It feels like 1995 again. Labour landslide in 2024.
Yet, is it possible? Will Labour be any better? Given their track record it seems unlikely. What a useless political system we have. What useless government we have. The public sector grows remorselessly and costs more and more and delivers less and less. The situation is hopeless. Democracy is dying.
July 7, 2022
People are saying that Labour could not do any worse.
But they always find a way.
July 7, 2022
Obviously the Northern Ireland protocol is a long way from being the only important political issue to consider but in my view it is the paramount issue because it calls into question the unity of the country. And so I would make these five points about it:
1. A protocol is necessary to reconcile the special relationship between Ireland and the UK with the general EU treaty provisions for relationships between member states and non-members.
2. But the new Tory leader must agree that it cannot be the present protocol, or any other protocol that splits Northern Ireland from the UK and leaves it behind subject to swathes of EU laws.
3. And the new Tory leader must agree that Boris Johnson’s trade deal with the EU is not worth 30% of GDP as he pretended but is in fact near worthless and its loss would be no great loss.
4. The new Tory leader must treat the Irish government’s absurd claim that “any checks or controls anywhere on the island would constitute a hard border” with the contempt that it deserves.
5. And the new Tory leader must recognise that any system to help protect the EU Single Market must be based on controls on the exports to the Republic, not on imports from Great Britain.
July 8, 2022
I shared this with a contact in Ireland, who commented:
“No. 5 is the most important point. If it came down to 5, the Irish Government would discover the potential of a digital border overnight. Sooner or later, somebody, who cannot be kept out of the Irish media, will point out that Leo Varadkar, within a week of becoming Taoiseach, took steps to make sure that a digital border could not be constructed by closing down discussions between our Revenue and yours. (This has actually be said in an IT article but if it was said by the new British PM in an interview with RTE it would be a game changer.) It is essential, therefore, that the new PM understands that the problem can be resolved relatively easily by the two Revenues sitting down together, is prepared to say so loud and clear and makes no bones about laying the blame where it should be laid: here.”
July 8, 2022
Denis, according to “the former Tory MP Gavin Barwell, who led Mayâs office during her tortuous parallel negotiations with the EU and the mutinous cabinet, noted that Johnson was the least willing to compromise of all the Brexiters and refused to acknowledge the difficult choices that had to be made over Northern Irelandâs special circumstances… I would be surprised if we rejoined in the medium term but I would be equally surprised if a future government didnât negotiate a closer deal.â
Brexit, he suggested, is far from done.”.
July 7, 2022
As we see more resignations, anyone get the feeling of rats leaving a sinking ship. All waiting to see what others are doing then rushing to ensure they are not left behind. Sums the qualities of our ruling class.
July 7, 2022
One other thing: In a near-war situation, I expect the FCDO and Defence ministerial teams to stay at their posts. No need for virtue-signalling resignations there, please.
July 7, 2022
What is needed is integrity, initiative and inspiration. Johnson just has inspiration. Unfortunately the integrity is missing. The initiative might have come from wise counsel, but it seems that comes from Princess Nut Nut instead.
July 7, 2022
Strongly agree that this is not a matter for the country as a whole (I’m not politically affiliated, just pro autonomy, pro Brexit). Very definitely not. To be resolved by the parliamentary party? Probably. I hope there is a greater proportion of honourable people than during Mrs May’s tenure, who will respect the manifesto on which they were elected.
The country does not need somebody who panders to both and churns out ‘woke’ words and policies, no matter how dangerous the mainstream and social media.
July 7, 2022
Thank you for the opportunity to offer views on these unusual political circumstances. I expect that there will many claims and counter-claims of legitimacy made by the rivals and their supporters over the coming days. My request would be to remind everyone with whom you speak that neither the 2016 referendum nor the 2019 election provided personal mandates for Mr Johnson in the manner of an American presidential election. The Tories collectively won the most recent general election, not Mr Johnson individually, and it will be important to remember that in the tussle to come.
July 7, 2022
If the Tories elected a pro-EU Brexit is dead
But your party has facilitated the brutality of authoritarian Neo-Marxist woke ideology that has consumed every area of public and private life. We don’t need a new leader, WE NEED A NEW PARTY TO REPLACE your party, filth Labour and the slime in Scotland
The Tory party and every one its MPs believe in nothing at all except protecting the party and their careers from harm
Morality and humanity sacrificed on the altar of the politicisation of of human existence
July 7, 2022
We keep saying that we don’t know ”Labour policies”….well I don’t understand ”Tory policies”
July 7, 2022
It is surely clear that Johnson’s political demise will be roundly welcomed by the “remainer” claque and the cabal intent on achieving re-entry to the EU. I feel sure there are conspirators bent on this long-term aim, despicable in my estimation, and they must be stopped. A reinvigorated ERG or something similar must be a priority to counter the plotters and destroy their aims. Central to that is the appointment of the right Party leader/PM. My choice would be a Spartan.
July 7, 2022
We gave Mr Johnson a massive majority, hoping that he might cut back the Civil Service, permanently cope with Brexit and bring back some Police to the streets. We also hoped that he would extend our exports round the world and get our energy safely organised to extend the workforce and keep the lights on.
Instead we get a lot of sordid crises, a massive uptick for the green lobby and grandstanding in Kiev. And tons of personal crises starting with Dominic Cummings and finishing with a squalid little man drunk (again). Now we are lashing out more and more borrowed money.
Mrs Thatcher’s cabinet was full of very different, very talented people. where are they now?
July 7, 2022
We still need to ask ourselves why the ship’s officers are looking to make the captain walk the plank by reference only to their perception of his personal standards and judgment, when there is no immediate sign that any of them want to alter the ship’s ill considered course and steer it away from the rocks towards which it is heading at an alarming speed. Indeed all of those officers could have jumped ship before now if they had held principled objections to the ship’s course. By any reasonable standard, any new captain cannot sensibly be one of those officers.
July 7, 2022
We have to have a true Brexiteer and they must make it clear to those around them that a real Brexit will be delivered. Anyone in the party not supportive of this democratic vote should join another party. We need to forget net zero and create jobs by fracking and drilling and telling those companies there will be no windfall taxes. We need an honest person who is passionate about this great country and it’s people. As said before I like Andrew Bridgen. Straight talking, successful businessman and a true Brexiteer.
July 8, 2022
Just came across an old Ben Wallace Tweet from 2016:
How to have 100% control over our borders: leave the EU, Leave the UN – close the channel. “Stop the world I want to get off!” – ridiculous
10:15 AM · May 22, 2016
July 7, 2022
What should now happen? Johnson should make a radical break with all the policies that have produced this crisis – health security nanny statism and the ruinous expenditure that came with it, ridiculous and unaffordable militaristic posturing on the world stage, and above all the calamitous net zero policy. Were he to do this and call for a return to libertarian conservatism and living within our means, surely he would find enough support to form a government. If he did not, what would that say about the real political values of your colleagues, Sir John?
He would also need to make a clean breast of his errors and confusion recently, thanks to spending so much time on a mistaken obsession with Ukraine and Russia.
July 7, 2022
Certainly not a general election as your party would lose big style. Boris is damaged goods and needs to be replaced but only with the right person. Finding this right person is critical and I don’t see a candidate from the current government. I would suggest an interim PM, maybe David Davis with you as chancellor. We need energy and food security before next winter otherwise we are facing power cuts and empty shelves. You already have a feel for the policies required based on the great comments people post here. Cut the planned Corporation Tax rises to encourage investment and growth, drop net-zero and invest in new energy technology, cut vat on household bills, cut immigration and deal with the illegals, don’t sign the WHO treaty, leave the ECHR, stop all the woke and diversity nonsense, get the police back to dealing with crime, use the money for the NHS to actually treat illnesses, take back our fishing waters, sort out Northern Ireland, stop giving our money away, reduce legal and foreign aid. The people have already given you a mandate with an 80 seat majority to deliver it. Just get on with the job. Be bold, be wise. Time is short.
July 7, 2022
Christine
The two you name immediately came to into my mind, not just because of personal integrity alone, but because they were not part of the last lot of Government ministers that supported such dire policies..
Certainly in my view JR would make an excellent Chancellor, if he was given a free hand !
July 7, 2022
Well said Christine
July 7, 2022
Will Uxbridge members and Central Office force him to go Independent? He shouldn’t be the official candidate again.
July 7, 2022
So many resignations.So many empty posts.The cheek of a newly appointed chancellor. I am not sure why they resign.Wouldn’t a large vote of no confidence achieve the same result!
July 7, 2022
I think Boris’ only last hope is if the old guard is prepared to step in and help him, take on the minister’s roles that have quit with their experience and actually follow through on the manifesto you were elected on.
IDS – levelling up
JR – treasury
PB – whip
etc
give you all the last crack of the whip to make your mark and sort this sh*t storm out.
July 7, 2022
And it’s all over now. Verhofstadt speaks for the EU whilst rubbing his hands together:
‘EU & UK relations suffered hugely with Johnson’s choice of Brexit. Things can only get better EUFlag, UKFlag.’ end of tweet.
Why are we even reading what Lange – a German MEP thinks about Boris, why? Because they’re about to sink us. Back paying in with no position, tied up in Knots World trade deals that don’t protect the EU market snuffed out – (it makes no difference if we’re at the top table or not Cameron and his chosen leaders of the Council couldn’t even change minor tweaks) by September 2022 when the main membership fee money runs out. All cheered along by Farage (sneaky man never trusted him) Habib (you’re going to be sorry mate) and finally Tice (thought you had more sense).
Doo do do do doooo!
July 7, 2022
I didn’t dislike Farage too much until child like he stood up in the EU and said I told you so.Pathetic really.
July 7, 2022
Scrap the meaningless ââLevelling Upââ âŠ.it was only invented to plicate Gove
July 7, 2022
I disagree glen, I think levelling up is there to stop the concreting over of the South East and London (now moving up to Oxford/Cambridge.
All southerners do is compare house price gains or moan about their rents from buy-to-let landlords raking it in. You can still buy a house up here for ÂŁ100,000-ÂŁ150,000. Some terraced housing ÂŁ70,000 3 beds for that in Liverpool!
July 7, 2022
I wonder how much of this farce is the result of Boris being incompetent and how much of it is as a result of the party’s refusal to allow him to do what needs to be done, especially regarding Brexit?
Whilst there can be no doubt whatsoever that Boris has not exactly made life any easier for himself I think that a fickle electorate would soon change their opinion again IF there is resolution of widely-disliked problem areas like Northern Ireland ; illegal immigration ; tax cuts ; an infrastructure spending boost ; boosting home-sourced energy and manufacturing; removing reliance on “green” policies ; reforming the current prioritising of supposedly “woke” and politically correct policies over commonsense policies; etc. etc. etc.
In other words, becoming more Conservative again.
There is a good argument to be made that doing some of those things would also provide a boost to our economy in what looks like being a globally-challenging time.
It may however already be too late for Boris to implement such things even presuming he wants to, of course.
July 7, 2022
Boris Johnson needs to step down but the danger is that his replacement will be one of those cabinet colleagues of his who have been the puppets of their officials. Education, Health and the Treasury ministers have all failed to assert themselves and would make weak and poor prime ministers.
July 7, 2022
For us mere mortals on the side lines it is very hard to know what is exactly going on, as a very large proportion of the media both broadcast and printed are distorting the ‘news’ with opinion. They also treat the PM as though he is ”President” and we are run by a dictatorship. We are not, and we have a PM who is just the conductor of the orchestra which it has gone out of tune.
First and foremost you don’t fire the entire orchestra as that would be disastrous, but you analyse the sections not performing up to standard and replace them and that can include the conductor.
A general election would be a grave mistake and cost the whole country dearly from top to bottom. We elected a government to take us out of the EU and reap the benefits. That has not happened, as there have been several departments dragging their feet and putting plans in place that are the direct opposite to gaining benefit, security and self sufficiency. Energy and DFRA are two good examples.
When we were released from the restrictions of Covid we should have gone at full speed to implement Brexit, but we haven’t because the whole of Westminster is riddled with Remainers plus a load of ‘wets’ entering politics as career and bringing zero experience with them.
Boris has got the big decisions right and ‘partygate’ was a trumped charade from beginning to end. It was similar to blaming the chairman of Unilever for a series of ‘piss-ups’ at a Birdseye frozen pea factory. You need to calm down, work out why Brexit is going slow and then put in place a team that will ”get it done”.
BUT be careful there is no obvious successor!!!!!!
July 7, 2022
Maybe you could persuade your colleague in High Wycombe to stand.
July 7, 2022
Yeap
July 7, 2022
It seems the fool won’t go, despite the events of this morning.
Now you have no choice. He must be kicked out. The Liberal and Labour Parties are mad so the country desperately needs the Conservatives, but the meltdown at the next General Election for the Tories will be awesome unless action is taken now.
July 7, 2022
Unless by some miracle a person of integrity, purpose and wisdom of years is chosen as the next PM, then we might as well keep the dragon already in number 10 – because nothing will get any better for the country if another WEF clone takes the reigns of power. NOTHING.
The new PM if chosen from the WEF pool would of course enjoy a period where she/he could do more or less what they wanted, a grace period, in which the screws would be tightened even more.
With Boris taking hit after hit, and forced to retreat, we would be in a slightly better position.
It doesn’t appear that Boris will take any notice of cabinet resignations and go himself — look at how quickly he replaced Sunak!
The best way forward is to keep the heat on the present PM to make him more pliable.
With the Tories likely to be wiped out at the next GE, this will let labour in with a huge majority – Groan.
That will really be the death bell for the country
One thing is clear – we can never vote liblabcon ever again, without a large influx of new right of centre parties to balance the way we are being drowned in socialism.
July 7, 2022
It would now seem to be resolved as I understand that the PM has informed Sir Graham Brady that he will resign. I presume we will hear more detail later.
I will say only this; if the next leader does not adhere to the 2019 Manifesto, the Conservative Party (and this country) is doomed.
July 7, 2022
Resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party? Presumably he’ll be wanting to hang on as PM for a couple of months. I wonder if the Conservative MPs will let him. The interests of the country will be best served if a removal van backs into Downing Street later today. Raab needs to start righting the listing Conservative ship.
July 7, 2022
He needs a bit of time to steam off his ÂŁ840 per roll wallpaper.
What is disappointing is that he has only really appointed friends or those who do not threaten his position to the cabinet and it therefore looks as though there is a dearth of talent, but there must be many talented people on the backbenches who could do an excellent job but have not been given a chance.
July 7, 2022
Boris Johnson has been a huge disappointment as Prime Minister. He likes to think he can emulate Churchill but sadly he is a buffoon who has no moral compass. His behaviour at the G7 summit was a total embarrassment and it’s time he went.
I would like to see the whole of the front bench dispensed with. They are all damaged goods with particular reference to Liz Truss who is spearheading our disastrous foreign policy in Ukraine and Priti Patel who has been completely ineffective at stopping illegal immigration.
Our kind host would be a fine Chancellor and I am sure there are others on the back benches who are principled MPs and not WEF stooges. These are the people our country now needs to lead us out of this quagmire into a brighter future for all.
July 7, 2022
+100
July 7, 2022
Johnson should have gone some time ago. It is an appalling indictment of the Conservative Party that he has been supported to this this point. Waiting until the Autumn to change PM is very poor reflection on the Tories. Change and change now. We need a new PM and a new cabinet and get back to running the country, instead of this shambolic nonsense.
July 7, 2022
Sir John,
As I see it the current Prime Minister is the least worst option. Lord Frost would be my preferred candidate but he’s not in the running. We cannot have government determined by the leftwing mainstream media. Having seen the reaction yesterday from the likes of Andrew Marr (LBC) and Jo Coburn (BBC), which was shown on GB News, my support is for whoever upsets these people the most. If Boris Johnson can do it then so be it. But he does need someone to remind him to concentrate on the day job, and give up all this foreign grandstanding.
July 7, 2022
“my support is for whoever upsets these people the most. ”
Yes, a reliable guideline.
July 7, 2022
Having just heard the news that Boris has at last agreed to go, it brings to an end a premiership which has had equal amounts of brilliance, poor judgement and incompetence. Such is the man who has held this great office through what has been the most difficult time experienced by any PM since WW2.
History will record that Boris made the right judgements on all the major issues and thus led the country successfully through the pandemic and delivered Brexit against all the odds. The minor issues that have brought him down will mystify future generations because they are, in the great scheme of things, trivial. Indeed, in many European countries they would be considered normal practice.
However, Boris cannot be allowed to remain in office until October. Either the campaign to choose a new leader must be brought to a swift conclusion, or a temporary PM should be appointed, one who will not be a candidate in the forthcoming election. I favour the latter, as he or she could be appointed before the weekend.
July 7, 2022
My choice would, of course, be one Sir John Redwood !
July 7, 2022
Concur
July 7, 2022
Events have taken over: we now know that Boris will shortly announce his resignation as Leader of the Conservative Party, paving the way for the election of a new leader. It sounds as if his plan is for this to procede at a very leisurely pace through the summer holidays leaving him in office as Prime Minister for as long as possible. However, it is surely in the Country’s interest, and probably also, that of the Conservative Party, for a new Prime Minister to be appointed as quickly as possible. I think the Conservative Party should do all it can to ensure that this happens. We should not be in limbo any longer than is strictly necessary.
Let us also hope that the Parliamentary Party has the sense to offer the Membership, a choice of candidates to choose from, who are Conservatives and not Social Democrats, certainly not Hunt or Sunak.
Why don’t you stand?
July 7, 2022
Is there any candidate who will get to grips with mass immigration, the biggest long-term threat to the Britain we know? Except possibly the host of this forum.
July 7, 2022
I agree (to both points).
Best way for Sir John Redwood to make PM is to step into the position of Chancellor first. With Wallace as Foreign Secretary. And Sunak as PM. You got to have a mixed bunch in Leadership overall. Not just from one sector of the party. To balance each other out. With a more tax-cutting Chancellor, Sunak could focus on governing the country in general. I think he’d be a safe pair of hands here – and popular enough with the electorate.
Reply No PM has offered me the Chancellorship!
July 7, 2022
I don’t know enough about politics, sir, about how to reply properly .. But hope you get considered / given opportunity to make your case why you should be selected (or for another position in government such as Business or Transport and take things from there).
July 7, 2022
People have a short memories, MPs are fickle and if you are going to make a change make a big one. Cut VAT and cut fuel tax even if for a temporary term to help people with the cost of living and boost business with cuts in corporation tax and business rates. Issue a new MPs code of conduct with teeth and after a few months those defected MPs will flock back!
July 7, 2022
MPs are self-interested rather than fickle.
July 7, 2022
Boris Johnson has to go quickly and has demonstrated he should not be anywhere the key decisions facing the country. Every day indecision gives uncertainty and we need practical proven achievers in the cabinet.
Nadhim Zahawi seems the only one who can stand up to Johnson.
Whilst they all have signed up to net zero they may come to their senses on practically zero chance of its 100% acceptance in the real world down here on the ground.
At least NZ listens, stands up for the country, is an proven achiever and would fight with real conviction and is a proud conservative who is unafraid of the left blob calls ts.
July 7, 2022
The guy who took promotion from his boss then 24 hours told his boss to get on their bike? Haven’t come across much more indecisive action than that, or was it just hypocritical and completely idiotic?
July 7, 2022
Based on what I have heard from the parade of Remainer Conservative MPs on Radio 4 this morning I believe your party is heading back towards 13% in the polls and electoral vengeance from the electorate. There is no potential leader (including remainer Liz Truss) who can win an election. If the Remainer MPs impose another incompetent Remainer prime minister on the country you will be out of power for a generation.
July 7, 2022
What are the rules about Boris Johnson running in a future Leadership Election? (Is he allowed to or not). I know an eccentric idea but so what?
July 7, 2022
not just eccentric more frightening.
July 7, 2022
I didn’t dislike Farage too much until child like he stood up in the EU and said I told you so.Pathetic really.
July 7, 2022
I have no confidence whatsoever that a Brexit-friendly leader will be elected. Even if he/she was, they would be immediately pummelled by the remainers within, and the media, until convenient mud could be thrown and made to stick, to force that person out too. The mainstream media has proved to be absolutely ruthless in its attempts to return this country to the EU; it does not care what the people want or think, anymore than its controlling masters do. Our country is being run and controlled by the media, using psychological tactics.
It will need a very strong mind and hand at the helm.
July 7, 2022
None of the Johnson Cabinet is suitable. All are stained and have proved incompetent in office. When a new PM is elected a new Cabinet is required with none of the loony tunes policies of Net Zero and Rejoiners. This leads us to the back benches. I don’t know many of them, but I do know one – Sir John Redwood. No chance of course and we will be stuffed up with yet another dud from the already failed. Brexit is almost certainly now doomed and the economy will continue downwards under pressure of the cost and losses of Net Zero which is the biggest loss maker this country has ever seen. I doubt our economy has the strength to withstand the pressures of it.
July 7, 2022
TOP
Christians worldwide are being hurt, killed, imprisoned, and marginalized by states around the globe. Listen to OPEN DOORS to see and understand what is going on. They need help. China has the technology to smash cultures and religions.
1 The country needs to go forward on BREXIT. The shackles of the EU around NI must be removed, and UK laws with embedded EU commitments that give EU sovereignty removed. CANZUK must be moved forward in all areas to replace the EU.
2 UK must support UKRAINE until RUSSIA is kicked out of UKRAINE. No ifs or buts.
3 Curb inflation and raise interest rates to cause RECESSION (deliberately) to force oil prices downwards so that RUSSIA economically implodes and jokes its income stream for war and future wars.
4 Rebuild our armed forces so that the Navy and Army are able to field lethal effects on MASS. Currently, they only have defensive abilities. They do not have the weight or mass to deter. Russia has shown that even having old guns on MASS it can still push forward. Having the latest and best without the numbers and mass means missiles run out quickly and the old stuff is needed. We need a plan to re-arm so that lethal MASS is achieved.
5 Build energy supply independence and the Green agenda must be speeded up.
6 Manufacturing must be encouraged to build more stuff at home in the UK
July 7, 2022
What should happen now; select a new leader that will
Repeal the NIP
Repeal Climate Change Act
Repeal the policies of Net-Zero
Stop HS2
Stop Foreign Aid
Reduce the size of government
Reduce taxation
Send illegal immigrant back to France
July 7, 2022
+1
July 7, 2022
If the party and the new leader isnât prepared to repeal the aboveâŠ.you might as well have continued with Boris
July 7, 2022
yes please!
July 7, 2022
Anyone who supported lockdowns cannot be Prime Minister in my view
July 7, 2022
And in mine.
July 7, 2022
I do not believe that the matter shoud be resolved entirely by the *Parliamentary” element of the party.
Look what happened with May – a final two with Leadsome who invented an obvious pretext to withdraw due to some reasonable comments about motherhood in an interview. Just enough of an excuse (in her view perhaps, not mine) to withdraw – but nothing that would damage her future.
And lo and behold, she pops up as Leader of the HoC in May’s govt. Who’d a thunk it.
No. No more of that please. We need to ensure that a staunch Brexiteer takes over and that the membership are involved in doing that. Just imagine if, last time round, Hunt had won instead of Boris. Where would Brexit be now? And it might have happened if left to the bunch of Liberal remainers that currently inhabit the parliamentary party.
July 7, 2022
Now the Great Charlatan has admitted defeat and agreed to resign don’t let him stay on as a “caretaker”. He’s not fit to be the caretaker of our local park, and the sooner he gets out the better. From six months ago:
https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2021/12/17/text-of-the-true-brexit-elf/#comment-1284549
“Personally I have moved from âI am no fan of Boris Johnson, far from itâ in September 2019:
https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2019/09/19/the-eu-and-empires/#comment-1056676
to being unable to bear seeing and hearing him on TV.”
Dominic Raab has had the experience of standing in as his deputy and should be the caretaker.
July 7, 2022
Ditto. I cannot abide the sight or sound of the man. Nor can many I know.
July 7, 2022
One other point.
We need to get a leader who appoints Brexit people – this is not done yet.
How did the last two by-elections see a Leave constituency have a candidate who has a fairly rabid Remain past?
One could be forviven for thinking that CCHQ were trying to lose. The Parliamentary party needs to be sorted out and the selection process has been the problem for some time now, constantly finding weays tofoist Remainer candidates on us – not to mention the fact that most of these people have no useful life experiecne to bring to the table for running ministries, policy definition etc.
Which is why we end up with Chancellors who don’t understand economics and energy minister who don’t understand energy. And how we end up with more and more people “on the left of the party”.
Get a good CCHQ Chairman in so that there’s a steady stream of real Conservatives coming through, with real world skills and knowledge.
July 7, 2022
the solution is new elaction, thre is so much sleaze and corruption around the Conservative Party taht it is not worthy of running this grat country of ours.
Unfortunately, you are part of the sleaze the way you voted in the case of Owen Paterson.
Your censorship does not help you either
July 7, 2022
Bill, they think people like you will be satisfied with a new Conservative Leader. Shaking my head in amazement.
When Boris was delivering ‘all power to be green by 2035’ which I’m sure you support;
When Boris dashed to the aid of the Ukraine with millions of pounds of our money,
The ifs confirmed the UK has had the biggest tax rises in more than 25 years thanks to Sunak’s ÂŁ65bn raid on household incomes and company profits. A promise of an increase on corporation tax from 19% to 25% in 2023 the first attack on companies since Denis Healey. Fully backed by Sir Kneel a lot.
Sunak freezing personal income tax allowances (fiscal drag) from April 2022 to 2026.
Sunak froze pensions ‘lifetime allowances’ doesn’t affect defined benefit public sector type pensions!
Sunak froze inheritance taxes until 2026! Yet another fiscal drag.
What is it that you don’t like there Bill? Did you know that 40% of UK adults don’t pay any income tax. These policies were more Labour than Labour.
July 7, 2022
It is a sad day for the party and our parliament. There is never any winners in such a shameful spectical as our party turning on itself again. It does not go down well with the general public.
So, who will lead us into the next election? Well to be Frank, I haven’t got a clue as no obvious candidate comes to mind.
I hope this does not lead to us going back into the EUSSR or a lib/lab/snp/Green coalition.
Let’s hope as “shags for influence” comes to an end, so we stop the rush to the net zero lunacy.
Let’s hope we go for the right leader who is capable based on his or her abilities rather than the woke candidate based on factors such as race, colour, sexuality, gender or other irrelevant factors.
July 7, 2022
It’s too late for the Conservative party
July 8, 2022
That’s not quite right bill.
There is no election needed for 2 years.
So it’s really to early rather than too late.
July 9, 2022
P2, Given your previous rate of success in political predictions (your last brilliant one being that two by-elections lost was nothing to worry about) I am taking your further âinsightsâ with two tons (or should it be 2,032,094 g) of salt.
July 7, 2022
The Tory Party simply must STOP following the BBC 24 Hour Rolling News Agenda. This is what has made Boris such a disaster.
For once may we have a Tory politician who – on getting elected – does NOT say “I accept this result graciously and so I must think of the people who *didn’t* vote for me” only to ditch the manifesto they were elected on and follow that of people who DID NOT vote for them.
Boris did far worse than that. Far worse.
On election with a thumping 80 seat majority (in constituents that were sick to death of woke) he said of Red Wall voters “We understand that you only *lent* us your votes” and thereafter followed the greatest ditching of Tory policies we have EVER seen.
No. The Red Wall voters voted Tory and so should get Tory.
Alas too late. The county is ruined (by greencrap, lack of public sector reform, debt and mass immigration) and such hardships are coming that most Tory MPs will be out of office at the next election.
July 7, 2022
“General election is not in the national interest”. Where have I heard that before?
“Coups happen in other countries â they are not something the public would ever expect in Britain. But could such a thing be occurring in plain sight here today or is this simply a wild exaggeration of a few bumps in road in our democracy?
Since Prime Minister Boris Johnson was voted into power, his Government has threatened parliamentary sovereignty, the independence of the judiciary, the independence of the BBC, the individual right to trial by jury and has undermined public confidence in all institutions of governance to an extent never seen before.
The net effect of all these measures could amount to a coup â a very British coup, one which will perhaps only be evident in hindsight.
The Governmentâs justification for such behaviour seems to be âthe national interestâ â but the âGovernmentâ and the âstateâ here are not synonymous. When the two diverge to the extent that the Government starts acting in its own interest and to the detriment of the interests of the state, this can be construed as a coup.
Unfortunately, our unwritten and uncodified constitution is vulnerable to such a thing because it consists of a myriad documents and protocols which rely on any incumbent Government to act in good faith.” (Dr Andrew Corbett, Defence Studies Department, Kings College London)
July 7, 2022
I’m disappointed by the events, it feels like a mixture of party politics and remainers.
But if this is the end of the Boris government its worth adding up the score. On the positive there is getting a brexit done, and the AstraZennica vaccine – very well done and a good price.
On the bad side the green policies felt cult like and didn’t feel like they were thought through for the economy. He also ran a loose ship with some sub-par politicians in my view, I can accept people get things wrong, but a few figures at the top clearly lack principles and I feel the conservative party and country would be better without them.
As for who to replace them? As someone commented the rebels had no leader and were a rabble. I would say no to Rishi, Nadhim, Sunak, Gove or Hunt, they’ve all conducted themselves in nefarious manners and lack principles. Who to pick? Obviously I’d be happy if you picked the job, Ben Wallace has impressed too but all the contenders do lack charisma compared to Boris. Penny also seems good.
We will see who’s picked, but if its another Theresa style bureaucrat-remainer then I’ll likely be supporting another party. As for Kier Starmer, he clearly is the darling of the press, but unlike Blair he lacks charisma and his popularity is therefore fragile.
July 7, 2022
The Urgent Question – about Lord Lebedev’s links to Johnson – being debated in the House right now is added reason for the PM to leave office immediately.
Enough of him; let’s talk about me. I will now rejoin the Conservative Party. This will be my fourth membership. I hope that I will find enough conservatism in it. I am sick and tired of being a political refugee.
July 7, 2022
While I don’t condone the Prime Minister’s poor personal judgement and obfuscation over parties, Pincher, et al, these are but minor infractions when compared to his total failure to deliver on policy.
He is stating that he has a mandate to deliver, but has proven over the last two years that he is incapable of doing so. Northern Irish protocol, illegal immigration and Brexit dividend to name but a few. Now we have the cost of living crisis, no sustainable energy policy, the highest taxation in decades and a net zero policy that makes absolutely no economic sense at all.
He should stay if he can be relied upon to address just a couple of those things, but I have no confidence that that would be the outcome. In which case he should move over and let someone else who can deliver take up the Prime Ministership.
July 7, 2022
⣠Cut taxes which would promote growth and leave more money in the worker’s pocket, e.g. NI, rather than print more money to doll out too widely to offset the lack of affordability from over-taxation.
⣠Cut Government discretionary spending, e.g. HS2, and green subsidies on energy sources; if wind, etc., can’t stand on their own feet in the age of high energy prices, when will they ever?
⣠Promote the production of cheap energy, especially nuclear with Small Modular Reactors.âThe price of energy affects just about all other prices, including manual labour if that’s the alternative.
⣠Educate the public in sound money, what money is, its use as a medium of exchange over time and space, e.g. store of value when it’s over time.
I see the relaunch of Conservative Way Forward has been postponed until 1 p.m., Monday. https://twitter.com/SteveBakerHW/status/1544431576645345281
It will be interesting to see how much its proposals influence the leadership-contest debates.
July 7, 2022
We won’t get to know which side Sir John is on until it is safe for him.
July 7, 2022
what does safe mean? He is very likely to be re-elected in Wokingham at least for the next term.
July 9, 2022
TPW, Isnât it interesting? The couple of times he stood for leader in July 1995 and May 1997 he was rapidly defeated. It might be better for him not to try a third time? Prudence is mother of all virtues.
July 7, 2022
The person we need to lead us is Viktor Orban. Unfortunately he is otherwise engaged. His Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was interviewed on GB news yesterday and gave a lucid explanation of how sovereign nations are entitled to decide who does and doesn’t enter their country, despite the inevitable suggestion from the presenter that controlling immigration was about ‘racial purity’. Mr Szijjarto also pointed out that his country is host to a large number of refugees from Ukraine, genuine refugees who are sheltering from conflict in a neighbouring country.
July 7, 2022
I am informed by one who very recently suffered that Mr Orban uses cheap Russian petrol to support citizens but charges double to non-residents (enforced by number-plate recognition).
July 7, 2022
So you mean he looks after his own people, Beresford? Well, now there’s a thought.
July 8, 2022
Part of Ukraine used to be part of the Kingdom of Hungary.Mr Orban said back in 2014 that if Ukraine was to be partitioned,he wanted it back.The EU described his intervention as “unhelpful”!
July 7, 2022
It’s a pity that Boris Johnson is a BIG GOVERNMENT man. Were he to believe in minimal government, he would recognise that the country can be run with as few as 60 Ministers. The usual number of 100 Ministers is designed to create a large number of MPs on the payroll vote, who can be easily controlled by the Whips Office.
As I write, Boris has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party. Let me just say one thing about the succession. If the Conservatives select a Remainer, I’m off for good. Remainers, even ex-Remainers, are simply not to be trusted. Steve Baker has thrown his hat in the ring. Good; he has the right beliefs and values.
The new PM and his Chancellor will need to deliver ÂŁ20 billion pa of tax cuts and ÂŁ100 bilion pa of public expenditure cuts. Any fool can cut taxes but I see no sign of any Conservative planning cuts of ÂŁ100 billion pa. Sir John would do well to look at the outline policies laid out in the Reform Party web site and steal a few ideas.
July 7, 2022
Boris Johnsonâs spokesman 28/2/2022: The sanctions imposed by Britain, Europe and the United States were intended âto bring down the Putin regimeâ.
Biter bit.
Putin must be enjoying this.
July 7, 2022
So no to Truss then.
July 7, 2022
Yes to Steve Baker. And I don’t need to tell you who I want as his chancellor.
July 7, 2022
Richard. Yes yes yes. Andrew Bridgen isn’t running but Steve Baker would be brilliant. A Brexiteer who wants to abandon net zero. What’s not to like?
July 7, 2022
Brexiteer PM please.
2019 Manifesto should be honoured.
Drill/mine/frack natural gas and Hydrogen in UK please –> lower energy bills!
Get out of the way of business and consumers – by lower tax rates to obtain MORE tax! Laffer curve.
Repeal socialist IR35 and let the self-employed deliver the entrpreneurial growth needed.
Proper Brexit – purge the civil servants/quango’s. Repeal swathes of constricting EU rules.
Singapore on Thames, why not.
WTO if needed & stop paying EU loads of money, better spent at home.
July 7, 2022
Boris did some good things. Rescued some form of Brexit from the May shambles. Defeated a cabal of extremist Labour Marxists who are now sidelined. Did OK on Covid and eventually stopped following the science doom mongers (under Hunt weâd still be locked down). Took the lead in supporting Ukraine. Made a start on the Rwanda policy. All in a couple of years.
Against all that though he had no economic policy at all except socialist tax and spend and a bizarre obsession with the Net Zero fantasy. For those reasons he has to go.
July 7, 2022
Hero to net zero.
July 7, 2022
never a hero but always a joking bullshiter that people thought was fun after the dull as dishwater previous.
Big mistake selecting all of them. Find a Leader is quite a challenge.
July 7, 2022
He only had one job âŠa complete brexit, and we got brexit in name only
The shine started to dull quickly
July 7, 2022
Personally I would rather have seen Boris remain. He is who the public voted for. I hear commentators and MPs say that we are not a presidency and that folk voted for their local MP. This is true but I also think they are kidding themselves. If Therea May had still been leader would the conservatives have achieved a majority of 80âŠ..certainly not. Most people voted conservative for Johnson, voting for their conservative MP in the hope of getting Johnson.
Now that he is gone it is difficult to see who could replace him. With the exception of yourself and a couple of others there is so little talent left – and that is cross party. Selfishly I couldnât careless about birthday cake, bottles of beer, pornâŠ.and god knows what else.
What Iâd like to see is someone who will deal with energy and fuel – fracking, open up the North Sea fields, deal with our storage capacity. The BoE raising interest rates will have no effect whatsoever on inflation. The issues are supply costs and in the main fuel. Surely the amount of tax being taken from fuel was forecast well before the price rises and so there must be scope to make very large cuts – even temporarily – to the taxes here. Surely this will lead to reductions in costs for businesses and therefore reduction in inflation. Iâd like to see less green subsidies until green energy develops and becomes cheaper. We need to grow our economy and so lowering taxes – no nat ins rise, scrap and even lower the planned corporation tax rises to make us more competitive and invite investment, stop taxing landlords on profits they donât make and allowing their interest payments to be deducted (not capital payments). This would slow rises in rents as would not increasing interest rates.
July 7, 2022
Johnson has faced trial by media over small matters – and no credit given for his strong support for Ukraine – this is a worrying trend. Yet other matters of concern to most people (immigration, housing, ruinous net zero, cancel culture, too few doctors being trained, retrograde pension rules, etc etc) seem not overly of concern in Westminster and were not part of his downfall.
This all has the feel of another agenda being played out – that of Remainers whose blind allegiance to the EU trumps any allegiance to country, party and democracy. These are uncertain times for Brexit, I just hope there are enough Brexit supporting MPs in the Conservative party to counter the Remainers, and get us a strong capable leader loyal to our country.
July 7, 2022
Good afternoon.
Should the Conservative Party decide that they need another PM, which will be FOUR in twelve years, then I think it best that they choose someone whose ability, at the very least, matched their ambition.
There are many MP’s who want to be PM, but very few who would be considered to have the skills to meet such a demanding role.
July 7, 2022
If the new leader mention’s, net-zero, digital currency or escalation with Russia, then you are doomed.
Can only see another NWO PM taking over, mind you you keep voting for it so you must want it. Some say you are getting your just deserve, i just say now that you know no different, jjust a captured animal’s.
July 7, 2022
The Conservative Party doesn’t have a great record with choosing successors to Prime Ministers. John Major and Theresa May are two outstanding examples. There seems to be a tremendous rush to get Boris out but not, please, only to have him replaced by a no-hoper.
July 7, 2022
“the issue of leadership has to be resolved by the Conservative Parliamentary party.”
Which one? There are are least three Conservative Parliamentary parties. Only one of them is committed to carrying out the wishes of the 2016 referendum. The other two are dedicated to revoking it, in part or in whole, if necessary by fraudulent pretence or a violent coup. The announcement by Tom Tugendhat that a ‘clean start’ must ensue gives us some idea of the cavalier disregard your party’s MPs have for the manifesto on which you were elected and now sit. Lord Heseltine has announced that “if Boris goes, Brexit goes”.
The Conservative Parliamentary party will do its usual trick of proposing a shortlist of candidates almost all of whom will represent the same lobbies – corporate convenience, the EU, WEF, UN platform.
It will be down to grassroots Conservative Party members to try to see through the smoke and mirrors. But can you all not really not do any better than the mediocre choice you always propose?
July 7, 2022
Even in his resignation speech he still can’t help himself, it’s still more of his same old BS, and are Tory MPs really going to inflict this on us for several months more? Maybe even years, which is obviously what he’s hoping to contrive in some way. And apart from us here having to put up with him, what is going to happen when he has to deal with the leaders of foreign countries? He’s already making us a laughing stock around the world.
July 7, 2022
He can’t go on. It’s up to the 22 now to organise a contest in their time, not his.
July 7, 2022
The last time the Parliamentary party chose the new leader we got calamity May. Not a good omen. The party membership was given the choice of Johnson or Hunt. The latter still scores poorly with the membership and is not a popular public choice either. The current weak favourite with the membership is the defence secretary, who does at least seem to have put some backbone into that department, but whose other inclinations are largely unknown. He would be a choice with risk, given how Johnson turned against his own manifesto, pursuing policies diametrically espoused to opinions he had previously offered. It might work, but first we would need to pull the skin off the rice pudding to see what lies underneath. Net zero is a no-no.
Personally I would prefer to see someone who has laid their cards on the table in favour of sensible policy, like Lord Frost or Steve Baker, but I doubt whether the factions within the Parliamentary party have the wisdom to promote them.
July 7, 2022
Johnson’s fall was inevitable, anyone who has read any of the books/articles on his days from school to university through to politics and eventually PM, they are littered with examples of his consistent rule breaking, and his unwillingness to accept any form of regulation and moderation of his conduct. He considered himself the ‘special one’.
The media talk of his achievements such as Brexit. We all know of course that its Brexit in name only until we start to act in an independent way. The Covid period had some good news such as vaccines, but he allowed himself to be influenced by the scientific SAGE masters too easily. Evidence is now coming to light globally that lock downs were not the way forward, but those voices at the time were silenced.
The only thing I ask of the parliamentary party is that you appoint / elect someone who is a CONSERVATIVE who focuses on the economy, immigration, energy policy i.e. NO greenwash, the CoL crisis and delivering promised benefits to the red wall, who voted in droves for the conservatives and an 80 seat majority.
July 7, 2022
This is quite a decent account:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-62070376
“Boris Johnson, Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol”
As I said at the time, we should have called the Irish bluff at the end of 2017.
This is from December 4 2017, after watching a press conference in Dublin:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2017/12/04/two-views-of-brexit/#comment-905136
“My own conclusion is that itâs pointless trying to negotiate about this with people who adopt such an absurd, extreme and intransigent position, and rather than faff around trying to find a form of words which everyone can accept but each can interpret in a different way, and which may well weaken our Union, Theresa May should just say now that the UK will no longer seek any âdeep and specialâ trade deal with the EU but will trade on WTO terms, and the Irish government can like it or lump it.”
July 7, 2022
We all need to be VERY afraid. A serving PM with a huge majority and only half way through his term, has been removed from office by the media, stupidly supported by some Conservative MPs who see an opportunity to reverse Brexit. Now that they have done this, we’ve basically handed control of our country to the media
July 7, 2022
yep even now he can’t accept his former little favourites individually turned on his antics – blaming some sort of uninformed ‘herd instinct’ .
Eton posh boys can’t cope with rejection – can they!
July 8, 2022
That’s the point.. he is doing well with rejection and to deny that there is a herding instinct is quite a distance from reality , They moved together( For whatever the reason)
July 9, 2022
Come on: As if all the people turning on Johnson right now had the same agenda.
In any other country without FPTP the CUP would be at least four parties. Taking for example the example of the recent French parliamentary elections, a UK Conservative MP could be in the equivalent of the Rassemblement National, Les RĂ©publicains, Mouvement des DĂ©mocrates, and Renaissance (new name of Macronâs party).
Any elector in a UK GE cannot be sure that the leader, the PM, will actually have the full support of all the different parts of his/her own party.
England might have been the Mother of Parliaments (as John Bright said), but the Mother has aged and rather badly.
July 7, 2022
Getting rid of Cummings was a mistake. No 10 seemed to go rapidly downhill after he left.
Bring Cummings back into No 10 (also maybe he should be the next Conservative candidate for Wakefield ?)
I don’t think Cummings would make a good PM but he would enhance whoever replaces Johnson.
Whoever replaces Johnson would certainly need enhancing.
July 7, 2022
Plain speaking to generate thought provoking points.
July 7, 2022
How disappointing to hear that Liz Truss has abandoned her work to rush back to the UK so she can advance her own ambitions. I suppose that Ben Wallace will be pleased by her mistake.
July 7, 2022
Three huge problems in the country.
– Covid hang over. Sort out inflation and health.
– Net Zero. Was never voted for yet is crippling expensive.
– Mass Migration – Resources over stretched, such as housing, and low tax payers.
These are huge problems because we are a long way down the road on all three of these issues. It will take well over five years of concerted effort, that will be unpopular with the woke MSM, to get the ship back on course.
July 7, 2022
Net Zero – “Theresa May has sought to cement some legacy in the weeks before she steps down as prime minister by enshrining in law a commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, making Britain the first major economy to do so.11 Jun 2019” Guardian
That was in the 2019 manifesto too. Then Labour backed radical plans 24 09 2019 to reduce Britains carbon emissions to net zero by 2030. Even though the GMB said it would lead to the closure of whole industries – and business groups warned there was no credible plan. Yet Boris brought it forward to 2030 “For instance, every new car, van and replacement boiler must produce zero carbon by the early 2030s, and by 2035 the countryâs electricity supply must do the same.” Can we ask him why when it is doing so much immediate damage right now?
LONDON, Oct 3 2021 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday Britain was aiming to produce “clean power” by 2035 as part of the country’s goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions. Britain, which will host the COP26 climate summit next month, has committed to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 in what Johnson says is the world’s most ambitious climate change target which would put the country on track to become a net zero emissions producer by 2050.
July 7, 2022
They only remain ââhuge problemsââ because this government never resolved themâŠcut taxes, repeal net-zero and send in the navy
July 7, 2022
You’ve got to start asking yourself, surely, why the rampant remainers are in such A RUSH to replace Boris immediately. I can understand Cummings he’s a bitter man, who has been eaten up by Boris’ betrayal he needs to remember Boris did stand by him when he made his covid rule break. Starmer is so relaxed everything is going to plan he’s popped off to Wimbledon.
1411 John Major – why JohnM, what are your lot trying to stop Boris doing with regard to your beloved EU in the next few months?
1137 Starmer threatens a vote of no-confidence motion, can we have one on him too?
1008 Boris must resign TODAY “George Freeman MP who was reported in Jan 21 for breaking the ministerial code. It is why after the EU referendum I was clear, as a noisy former remained,” – enough said. and Bim Afolami ” Although I voted to remain in 2016,”
http Guido F.
Things are about to get much worse, I don’t even think people realise how annoying all this is with wall-to-wall coverage of none entity ministers we’ve never heard of going against our 2019 vote, a much stronger vote for Boris’ manifesto than even the 2016 referendum.
All this allowance of people like F Elliot labelling all Tories “sleazy” to get rid of Boris is going to backfire. I hope every candidate has to set out their own manifesto of what they intend to do with the Boris 2019 manifesto or are you just to vote on personalities alone and no promises. I don’t know why Boris is bothering with the 2019’s he should speak to the old guard who know what they are doing.
July 7, 2022
It will always end in disaster if any boss remains after being ousted by his membersâŠ.thatâs why we invented the post of deputy
July 7, 2022
It was high time Mr Johnson admitted defeat, and after all his cries of “I will not resign” the fact that he has been forced to do so should also encourage him to leave the office of Prime Minister sooner rather than later. This weekend would be good, although I hear he wants to use Chequers for a party this summer. He has been bombastic, crass, indiscreet, untruthful, and completely self-centred, and the fact that he turned up to PMQs yesterday with his shirt hanging out exemplifies, yet again, his disregard for the most basic of standards which should be adhered to by someone in public office. His hypocrisy over Brexit was shameful, as were his claims taking credit for the covid vaccine roll-out and the “low” death rate, especially given the current high rate of covid-related hospital admissions. No doubt he will continue making money, and who knows, maybe he will settle abroad like his father.
Whoever succeeds him will have a hard job on their hands if they want to convince the electorate to continue with a Tory government.
July 7, 2022
Every time Bojo now appears it nails another blow to the country.?
Just when it cannot get any worse a lavish wedding at Chequers is planned on 30 July for Boris and Carrie!
Insanely insensitive and entitlement just like gold wallpaper nut nut.
This will take the biscuit for millions of ordinary folk experiencing hardship.
He will leave a trail of disaster for your party Sir John. So sad he lacks empathy with Red Wall voters and leave them red faced in embarrassment.
July 7, 2022
The wedding party will go down like Harry and Megan’s bash before they left.
July 7, 2022
We don’t want any of the previous cabinet standing for PM.
Glad to hear Michael Gove is not putting his name forward. Can’t believe anyone would want to vote for Savid Javid or Penny Mordent, completely hopeless both of them. The thought of either of them becoming PM sends shivers down my spine. Grant Shapps considering putting his name forward FFS ,he must know he has no chance .
Ben Wallace should get the job,he seems to have a clean background and no skeletons in the cupboard and no one knows who he is,perfect.
July 7, 2022
Ben Wallace is certainly a patriotic chap and has demonstrated he is a proven safe pair of hands, self disciplined and forthright. He voted Remain but has previously always been a Euro sceptic….??? Can be be relied on to deliver real Brexit independence?
July 7, 2022
Stephen. Agree about Gove. I couldn’t vote for another snake.
July 8, 2022
Ben Wallace was conned on camera into telling a Russian hoaxer about our military stocks, a few months ago. Not a man of sound judgment, methinks.
July 8, 2022
He’s not very bright.That comes across time and time again.NCO material max.
July 7, 2022
Dear Sir John, I am not a Party animal but it seems to me that the country needs
a) A Prime minister with the right instincts, a lively personality and the ability to connect with and inspire a wide range of ordinary people. My initial candidate would be Penny Mordaunt, if she can “clarify” some of her naive statements on gender. Otherwise Ben Wallace.
b) A Gordon Brown type figure to run the details and get things done. Obvious candidate Nadhim Zadawi as Chancellor. You may know others.
c) A wise and supportive counsellor, like Whitelaw, who can keep them on the straight road, provide ideas and also, as Chancellor of the Duchy, run a department. Obvious candidate Sir J Redwood, if you can adapt yourself to such a role. Otherwise IDS.
July 7, 2022
View.; Steve Baker should be encouraged to stand and be supported as PM.
July 7, 2022
Agree
July 7, 2022
Bloke. Just what I was thinking. I’ve only just read that he’s thinking of running. He would be excellent. .
July 7, 2022
JR: “There is a majority to do what needs doing.”
There has been since the last election, but the majority was utterly wasted.
So I have one request, and it maybe illustrates the paucity of my expectations in a leader. The next leader of your party, should know how to use a comb.
July 7, 2022
@AOL How to use a comb – marvellous – unless thin on top and not too deaf or daft.
July 7, 2022
A new PM selected from our existing Parliament will make no difference. Apart from a very few, which includes our kind host on this site, have no knowledge or the desire to obtain the knowledge to question the communist inspired green religion that is catastrophic anthropological climate breakdown and consequently the Westâs desire to destroy their economies, living standards and democracies with the technically impossible and cripplingly expensive net zero CO2 dream. To make our position even worse a majority favour completely open borders.
All the Westâs existing institutions from our legislature downwards and even our corporates are now clearly exhibiting the historian Robert Conquestâs second and third laws of politics.
The inevitable result will be an authoritarian government of some sort.
How we recover from this I do not know, if we ever will.
July 7, 2022
Dear Sir John, Javelin’s comment above identifies three key issues that need to be sorted. The most immediate is inflation, which needs action long before October.
Given that inflation is far more than (just possibly temporary) gas prices, there are three possible solutions: slashing the Budget deficit with meaningful tax rises and/or spending, as now touted by the OBR; a sustained cut in real incomes currently projected at up to 10 per cent in a year (the cost of living crisis); or a big, well telegraphed rise in money interest rates over the current six months.
As you have said, any effective fiscal squeeze will certainly deliver a recession, that will be raging in 2024. So will a big cut in real incomes. And wherever there is a labour shortage or powerful trade unions, people will demand higher pay to compensate for higher prices and thereby entrench inflation.
The only way to kill inflation quickly and with the least impact on most families is to raise money interest rates, initially close to double figures. But that must be combined with instructions/threats from the Bank of England for lenders not to foreclose on mortgages or loans where the borrower continues to service the loan at July 2022 rates. Not good for people like me who have financial assets but good for the majority who will quickly see a higher pound moderating their bills.
July 7, 2022
You should run for leader Mr Redwood ?
July 7, 2022
Brexit is already dead. It never really happened.
July 7, 2022
All I want is someone who will deliver the manifesto that you were all elected on in 2019. Any hint of backsliding on Brexit would be catastrophic.
July 7, 2022
The immigration problem must be resolved, and the ban on ICE cars must be overturned. Do that, and you just might win the next election.
Time for the English people to take direct action against the entitled southern so called elite.
July 7, 2022
Three WASTED years. His legacy? Three wasted years. Brexit? What Brexit? Insane energy policy. Scandal after scandal. Who will you elect now?
July 7, 2022
anyone but Rishi
read the manifesto again and actually tell the civil service to deliver it, or start sacking them
no woke BS
stop any net immigration
stop IR35
stop anti car measures
stop foreign aid except extreme famines
plan to start bringing national debt down
reduce the size of the state
hand real power to individual citizens in their relationship with the state, the NHS, social housing, schools, etc
equality for white working class hetro males, do something now about the crap education the young ones are getting
stop manipulating markets
stop forcing production abroad to countries abroad which pollute more than we ever did pushing up net world pollution
rebalance the divorce laws so that men get a fair deal, listen to fathers4justice
bring Nigel Farage into government
stop the lefty indoctrination in the teacher training colleges
proper education about how many millions of innocents extreme left wing policies have killed
roll the RAF and Fleet Air Arm into the Army Air Corps and get rid of the duplicate admin functions
reduce the size of the state
massive simplification of the tax and benefits system
proper transport improvements in the red wall areas, and old industrial heartlands
abolish the major of london role
that will do for a start
July 7, 2022
abolish the mayor of london I meant of course
July 8, 2022
IAIN GILL – All excellent points but nothing will happen under this governmental system.
July 8, 2022
yes Dom Cummings is correct about the rot in the system
July 8, 2022
Teach children how to spot grooming of ANY kind (including religion). The Internet is an environment humans have not yet adapted to. It could be the excuse used to vaccinate children against all manner of dangers, gangs, and addictions. If children then spot religious grooming well thats a good thing.
The UK needs to be a bastion of post Enlightenment reason.
Find some way of reining in the press they have become something that merely attacks attacks and undermines any British govt or institution. Its not like that anywhere else in the world. We are constantly subjected to trivial spite from the press. I don’t know what is worse the triviality or the spite.
The attack on Boris has cheered Putin up no end thanks to the malignant press and the backstabbers. The problem with “cake” wasn’t cake it was the security breach. Cant imagine that happening in the US , NZ , Oz or France.
There is a reason people cannot move for work . Once in social housing they are stuck and cannot risk a park bench. There has to be a creative solution to it. Thats one of the problems with immigration. Once people are in social housing thats it. They are stuck in the company store of the Welfare State.
July 8, 2022
Until the whole governmental system is changed, we will end up with a another lame duck due to the tactical voting the conservative in name only party utilise. MPs will protect their livelihood. The people are irrelevant . and remember, the Globalist UK NWO Establishment dictate regardless. However Nothing can stop what it coming, Nothing.