General British politics discussion thread

breezy1985 · 13-11-2023 11:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121361973#Comment_121361973

Even in this mad government there will not be a PM who is not an MP.

Also Sunak is surely in now until the next election.

Hodors Appletart · 13-11-2023 11:26am

I wonder have some more senior tories refused the position. You'd imagine someone like May might have been an option?

ArmaniJeanss · 13-11-2023 11:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121361987#Comment_121361987

Alec Douglas-Home was PM for 20 days without being an MP so it's not without precedent. A convenient by-election was arranged.

But agree that bar death it's a near-certainty there won't be a new PM before the election. (though I'm conscious that 100% of my predictions today have been wrong)

ancapailldorcha · 13-11-2023 11:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121361995#Comment_121361995

Almost certainly. You don't go as far back as to drag out Dave if you've not looked at who's closer to home. I suspect a lot of them are either nervous about the imminent electoral disaster and being tied to it or they're unfit for the office, 30p Lee Anderson for instance.

Theresa May for all her flaws never seemed as much of a careerist as the others. She knows her star won't shine any brighter so there's no reason for her to tie herself to this government.

Shelga · 13-11-2023 11:33am

Really didn’t see the appointment of David Cameron coming! UK government continues to careen out of control, with no vision, strategy or joined-up thinking for the country, just hurtling from one disaster to the next.

Does this make the chance of an early general election more or less likely?

Igotadose · 13-11-2023 11:35am

Hilarious. A Remainer as foreign secretary.

reactadabtc · 13-11-2023 11:37am

I wonder will David Cameron run as an MP next year. There were reports years ago that he wanted a return to politics as he was bored af, well he's back now, in one of the top jobs and surely he will look to run as an MP in the event that there is a leadership challenge after the next election.

ancapailldorcha · 13-11-2023 11:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362037#Comment_121362037

He was a Eurosceptic for years. He only played Remainer because he was stupid enough to bet everything on a coin flip. He's also still mired in a lobbying scandal but beggars cannot be choosers I suppose.

awec · 13-11-2023 11:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121361605#Comment_121361605

Maybe she wanted this, I'm not sure. I know there's a narrative that she wanted it so she could really pitch herself as a future leader and can now take the shackles off a bit, but I don't really buy it.

I think her chances of being a Tory leader are between slim and none.

If the Tories lurch to the right after the inevitable election beating they're going to take then they're going to spend a long time out of power. Even if the Tories are stupid enough to elect her leader (which I don't think they are), Braverman will never be PM.

Nody · 13-11-2023 11:41am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362027#Comment_121362027

Seeing how Sunak is acting as a PM it's exactly the same as before; no chance in hell because that would imply he's making a proactive decision instead of being pushed ot do something (and MPs want to stay in their seats milking benefits for as long as possible)...

antimatterx · 13-11-2023 11:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362048#Comment_121362048

I think he will take full of advantage of this door reopening for him

breezy1985 · 13-11-2023 11:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362014#Comment_121362014

Home also happens to be the last former PM to take a cabinet position in Heath's government in 1970.

A big difference now is there is no such thing as "a convenient by-election" for the Tories 🤣

ancapailldorcha · 13-11-2023 11:55am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362060#Comment_121362060

I wouldn't be so sure. Once they're gone, they'll be consumed by a culture of backstabbing and blaming. Heads will roll. She'll position herself as the defender of British values (whatever those are), the warrior against woke and someone who will stop the small boats despite making no progress in years as Home Secretary. Also, the Devil looks after his own.

https://twitter.com/Haggis_UK/status/1724018082304172113

pixelburp · 13-11-2023 12:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121361987#Comment_121361987

When it comes to these Tories, the phrase "I wouldn't put it past them" applies perfectly well. Cameron probably possesses enough ... well let's not call it goodwill, but some degree of allowance that he could probably get away with it. Especially if the client journalism out there spun the right narrative.

breezy1985 · 13-11-2023 12:21pm

Health minister has now resigned.

He was "always planning on not running in the next election to concentrate on blaa blaa blaa"

Strazdas · 13-11-2023 12:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362037#Comment_121362037

He was / is a hardcore Europhobe who mostly strongly disliked the EU. The very reason he held the referendum was because of his contempt for the union (check out Sir Ivan Rogers recollections of the period 2013-16).

breezy1985 · 13-11-2023 12:31pm

Transport Minister has resigned to "concentrate on local issues"

Pete_Cavan · 13-11-2023 12:33pm

Could it be an attempt to position Cameron for a run as next Tory leader? They have lost the next election already but need a safe pair of hands when in opposition. He can be easily dropped then before the following election and someone else brought in.

He probably has a good enough standing amongst the centre-right of the electorate while also being able to appeal to the right wing headbangers as the man who had the balls to hold the Brexit referendum. He might be seen as a compromise candidate by those with their hands on the levers of power within the party.

antimatterx · 13-11-2023 12:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362291#Comment_121362291

I think if the opportunity presents itself he will grab it

ancapailldorcha · 13-11-2023 12:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362291#Comment_121362291

Maybe in the long term. In the short term, I think he's largely discredited within the party and is only there due to a lack of anything resembling talent. We once had a Foreign Secretary who sang The Road to Manderley in a Myanmar temple and another who was Liz Truss so the bar for the role isn't exactly high.

I'm convinced that in the short term, MPs will coalesce around a culture war candidate, probably Braverman and they'll lose the 2029 election. Then, they may shift back to the centre.

ArmaniJeanss · 13-11-2023 12:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362279#Comment_121362279

This, and your earlier 'Health Minister has resigned' are both a bit misleading.

The actual Transport and Health Cabinet Ministers (Mark Harper and Steve Barclay) are still very much in place. Two non-entity sub-ministers (of which there's about 6 in every department) have resigned, really not a big deal.

breezy1985 · 13-11-2023 12:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362344#Comment_121362344

Fair enough. I was just going by the title they were given on the newspaper.

I still find it funny how many Tories suddenly never intended to stand in the next election and are pulling lots of other things to "concentrate on" out their arsses.

ArmaniJeanss · 13-11-2023 12:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362356#Comment_121362356

Yeah, in fairness The Guardian and others also tend to overplay it. 'Health Minister has resigned' as a headline but when you burrow down it's Junior Minister with responsibility for nothing much. I think there's ~120 of these 'minister of state' roles so there's always a bit of churn. Actual Cabinet Ministers stepping down would be a proper story.

Pete_Cavan · 13-11-2023 1:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362327#Comment_121362327

I can't see how Cameron would be a long term leadership option, I could definitely see him as a short term option to steady the ship. He'd be fairly disposable though and they'd drop him once he has served his use.

If the MPs were going to coalesce around Braverman, it'd be happening right now. Lord knows Sunak doesn't have enough authority to keep them in line.

breezy1985 · 13-11-2023 1:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362433#Comment_121362433

There is a small group of MPs called the New Conservative Group who rumour has it will be meeting soon to discuss a push for leadership by Braverman but I don't think they are believed to have sufficient power and it's not certain Braverman herself is keen right now.

Would love to see her try. I miss the old "Boris/May/Lettuce is toast" thread 😁

serfboard · 13-11-2023 1:15pm

I reckon that Braverman is looking to the next election, and figuring that the only people voting Tory will be UKIP/EDL types and that any remaining moderate Tories will be wiped out.

In a small right-wing party she stands a very good chance of becoming leader.

As for possibly becoming PM in 2029, five years is a very long time in politics. In the meantime, she'll relish being at the dispatch box roaring at Keir Starmer that he's not doing enough to stop the boats (assuming that the Tories win enough seats to be the opposition). It'd boost her profile for her future role as a GB/Fox News pundit.

Headshot · 13-11-2023 1:19pm

It's fair sickening to see Cameron back in politics and he has to become a 'Lord' to get Foreign secretary, 'Lord Cameron' it really stinks to high heaven

13-11-2023 1:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362307#Comment_121362307

Can’t see Cameron coming back. He demonstrated appallingly weak leadership back in 2015 by caving in to the Brexiteer wing of his party and granting them the referendum.

Pete_Cavan · 13-11-2023 1:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362453#Comment_121362453

They'd be stupid to push for her now. If they fail, that'll be her chance gone. If they are successful, she'll be the one carrying the can for the pasting at next election and will be ousted before the following election. Obviously that they consider Braverman in anyway suitable to lead the country does speak to their stupidity so who knows.

Seth Brundle · 13-11-2023 1:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121362518#Comment_121362518

Can’t see Cameron coming back.

He is back though!

General British politics discussion thread

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