PM Boris forms a government
 

1/11 Boris Johnson. ...
2/11 Esther McVey. ...
3/11 Michael Gove. ...
4/11 Dominic Raab. ...
5/11 Amber Rudd. ...
6/11 Sajid Javid. ...
7/11 Jeremy Hunt. ...
8/11 David Davis.


Boris Johnson, former foreign secretary

Resigned from the cabinet over May’s Chequers plan last July. Has argued that a no-deal exit would reflect the result of the 2016 referendum. The former mayor of London was once seen as the “Heineken candidate” capable of reaching voters other Tories could not. But his star has waned among Tory MPs left unimpressed by his two years as foreign secretary.

His popularity among Tory activists would give him a strong chance of winning if he made the final shortlist, but he might be blocked by a determined “stop Boris” campaign already being planned by his critics. If successful, the move would anger many Tory activists.


Andrea Leadsom, former Commons leader

Resigned from the cabinet on the eve of the European elections, saying she no longer believed the government’s approach would deliver the Brexit referendum result the people voted for.

She showed her inexperience in the 2016 leadership election, withdrawing to leave May as the last candidate standing after making comments appearing to suggest she would make a better leader because she had children.

The former Commons leader has strong support among Brexiteers.



Sajid Javid, home secretary

Backed Remain in 2016 referendum despite his Eurosceptic instincts. Now a keen Brexiteer, and prepared to keep a no-deal exit on the table. Has consistently challenged May in cabinet meetings.

Ambitious and has a brilliant backstory as the son of Pakistani bus driver who came to the UK with £1 in his pocket. But appears to be suffering from the curse of being one of the frontrunners in the Tory race. His stock has fallen recently after what some MPs see as unforced errors such as his handling of migrants crossing the English channel and his decision to strip Isis schoolgirl Shamima Begum of her UK citizenship.



Jeremy Hunt, foreign secretary

Remainer who briefly supported a Final Say referendum on the Brexit deal after the 2016 vote. Now rejects the idea, and is seen as a born-again Brexiteer who also wants to keep a no-deal departure on the table.

His pitch would be as the candidate who could unite the Tories’ warring factions. Tory members might judge him too much of a Remainer. Critics worry that his long stint as health secretary could return to haunt him at a general election. Could benefit from a slide in Javid’s fortunes, but will not want to overtake him to become the frontrunner.



Michael Gove, environment secretary

Along with Johnson, headed the victorious Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum. Even his critics admit he is one of the few successful departmental ministers since his surprise return to May’s cabinet in 2017, a year after she sacked him.

Has been a loyal and articulate promoter of the withdrawal agreement. Critics see this as in part an attempt to shed his reputation as an assassin who turned on Johnson to run for the leadership in 2016.

Gove’s refusal to join other Brexiteers in resigning from the cabinet might count against him among Eurosceptics. However, many of them are now coming round to his strategy of getting the deal “over the line” to save Brexit.



Dominic Raab, former Brexit secretary

Eurosceptic former chief of staff to David Davis, and followed his path by becoming and then resigning as Brexit secretary, complaining he was kept out of the loop by May and her civil service negotiator Olly Robbins. Displayed a grip on the detail while in the job, and impressed May allies in the 2016 referendum when he campaigned for Leave. But did not impress Brussels officials.

A fresh face, although his relative lack of cabinet experience could count against him. But a dark horse to watch in a leadership race. Has a big decision to make: will he back May’s deal if Johnson does, or decide to have clean hands and oppose it to the end, and potentially be on the losing side?



Matt Hancock, health secretary

[B]A new entrant in the leadership race and, at 40, could be the youngest candidate. A rare breed in the May government as a survivor of David Cameron’s regime: before becoming an MP in 2010, he was chief of staff to George Osborne. Impressed as culture secretary, as one of the few UK politicians to understand the digital era and power of the internet giants. Has also shown grip in a testing job since his promotion to health and social care secretary.

Smooth media performer who does not lack ambition. Described by some MPs as “a better version of Jeremy Hunt”, he is Remainer-turned-Leaver who could unite his fractious party. Has gone into bat for May’s deal when others kept their head down. Could be part of a “stop Boris” drive in which Johnson’s rivals try to share out MPs’ votes to keep him off the shortlist. Seen by some Tories as the leader after next.



Esther McVey

A Brexit supporter and former TV presenter, Esther McVey quit as work and pensions secretary last November in protest at Mrs May's withdrawal agreement with the EU.

Asked on Talk Radio whether she would run for leader, the MP for Tatton, in Cheshire, said: "I've always said quite clearly that if I got enough support from colleagues then, yes, I would, and now people have come forward and I have that support."


Priti Patel


Elected as MP for Witham in May 2010, she served as a minister in the Treasury and Department of Work and Pensions before being appointed international development secretary.

She resigned from the cabinet in 2017 after disclosures she had held a series of unofficial meetings with senior Israeli figures.

But she is admired on the right of the party for her strong pro-Brexit stance.



Penny Mordaunt


Penny Mordaunt became the UK's first female defence secretary in May this year after Gavin Williamson was sacked

With a background as a naval reservist, and having served as an armed forces minister under David Cameron, Ms Mordaunt seemed well prepared for the role.

The former international development secretary was a high-profile campaigner for the Leave campaign during the 2016 EU referendum and underlined her pro-Brexit credentials by backing Andrea Leadsom in the subsequent Conservative leadership contest. This time around, she is touted as a contender in her own right.


Sir Graham Brady


The long-standing chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee resigned his position shortly after Mrs May’s announcement and said he was considering running.

"I have been urged by a number of colleagues from across the party from inside Parliament, and outside, asking me to put myself forward as a candidate," he told the BBC. "Therefore, I have made the decision to stand down as chair of the 1922 Committee in order to ensure a fair and transparent election process.”

Sir Graham, knighted in the 2018 New Year Honours, has been a Conservative MP since 1997, chairing the 1922 Committee since 2010.


Amber Rudd


A leading cabinet Remainer, Amber Rudd resigned as home secretary in April last year over the Windrush scandal, after many people from Commonwealth countries who had legally lived in Britain for decades were wrongly classed as illegal immigrants and deported.

She returned six months later, replacing Esther McVey as work and pensions secretary, after an investigation blamed officials for the debacle.

She spearheads a 60-strong bloc of Tories called the One Nation Conservative Caucus, a group opposing a no-deal Brexit.

"The Conservative Party is entering a new phase and we here in this room are determined to shape that phase. Sometimes our voices aren't heard quite as vocally as they should be," she told the launch.



Rory Stewart


The former prisons minister was appointed international development secretary in early May, in a reshuffle that followed Gavin Williamson's sacking.

Although once a Remain supporter, he said he accepted Brexit but wanted "to reach out to Remain voters as well to bring this country together again".

"The only way I can do that is by moving beyond my brief and beginning to lay out, whether it's on climate change or any of these other issues, what I think it would mean to be a country we can be proud of," he told the BBC's Political Thinking With Nick Robinson podcast.


Liz Truss

A Brexit-friendly right-winger, the chief secretary to the Treasury has been making thinly veiled leadership speeches for some time.

The MP for South West Norfolk was the first woman justice secretary.

She caused a stir on social media in her earlier role of environment secretary when she told the Tory party conference in a dramatic voice that "we import two-thirds of our cheese. That. Is. A. Disgrace”.

---------- Post added at 01:54 ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 ----------

I thought a seperate post might be better for this please post up if I have forgot anyone?

Maybe we should do a poll?

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I see a few on there that 'drift with the tide' regarding Brexit.
Doubt I could trust anyone that can't make a decision and stick to it.


come to think of it, that rules out just about everyone above the position of door knob polisher and cushion arranger doesn't it

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Can one of the mods put a poll option in please.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

It baffles me when they say there's lots of talent in the party,if there is i can't see it.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Of those only Rory Stewart seems potentially able to unite the party. Amber Rudd has already withdrawn.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

They won't have him as he is a remainer.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I thought they were trying to put a stop to anyone pro brexit? which kind of rules out Esther McVey as I'm sure she said no deal was a prefered option.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Boris is the favourite, Gavin, so no deal is now highly likely.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Favourite he might be but 66% of favourites get beaten...

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Boris is favourite with party members, MPs could easily prevent him making it to the final 2.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

l suspect they will as he might be a real darling with party members but among Tory MP's he has plenty of enemies who see him as a ambitious , polarising , duplicitous and mendacious figure.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Just an average MP then.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Boris might be the popular choice amongst the lower ranks and non-members, but he is considered total poison by the higher ranks and those-who-must-be-obeyed.

So I suspect it'll be someone dragged out from the darkness.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

It'll have to be someone from the right side of the brexit argument or the party will be irreparably damaged.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

But they are already deeply damaged and until the make their way back to the middle ground of politics they will never get a overall majority again as hung parliaments and coalitions will dominate British politics for the foreseeable future.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I quite like Stewart. He seems competent, serious and has a decent personal history. I don't think he would unite the party though and having not had one of the big jobs it's hard to know how he would do as the leader.

I like Gove. He has a reputation for being talented, smart and effective. He is a Leaver too. It's only his steadfast support for the Withdrawal agreement that would do him in but the Tories want to win elections I think he would be a good choice for them.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

You underestimate how many members of the public actually want Brexit to happen. We need a Brexiteer in charge who understands the benefits of leaving the EU.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

l don't underestimate how many number wanted Brexit as it is 17,410,742 million last time l looked and there are 46,148,000 million people eligible to vote so do the maths as political history tells you any party that ventures too far to the right or to the left will not command a overall majority , That's a fact whether you like it or not..

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I don't call Brexit a move to the right! It's all about exercising the right to determine our own destiny.

The electorate voted for it, and their will should be accepted. This is a democracy, after all, and a promise is a promise.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

But we don’t want to ask them again, because with new information we think they may have changed their mind.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

You underestimate the popularity of Boris Johnson with the public.

Uncanny, I know, but it is there.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

l am talking about the Conservative party as they have always done well when they have appealed to a broad church of voters and if they go way from that they will find that some of their voting base will disintegrate.

---------- Post added at 19:07 ---------- Previous post was at 19:03 ----------

Rubbish as appealing to Conservative party members does not equate itself with being popular with a large part of the voting public as they know what a mendacious fraudulent charlatan he is....

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Afraid you have a very low quality threshold Damien.... Personally I'd go for Larry, the Downing Street cat
[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Michael Gove makes his play for the Tory leadership.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48411784

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...jeremy-corbyn/

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I agree with Damien that Rory Stewart is the only decent choice. After what Gove did to Teaching (and to Boris), he does not make the grade.

The problem is that decency is not longer the required characteristic for this job ..

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Gove is a repeatable backstabber , Can a man like that really be trusted?.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I agree

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Esther Mcvey just hit the nail on the head,on the Sophie Ridge show

"We must pick a side and that side is the one that won the referendum
We must leave at the end of october deal or no deal "

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Except they haven't.

---------- Post added at 11:11 ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 ----------

She gets my vote, then (well, if I had one)!

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I reckon Ether would make a good leader, straight talking northern lass even though she is a scouser.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

More trustworthy than Boris but I agree that is not saying much. If Boris can run the gauntlet of those who hate/mistrust him in the selection rounds and ends up in the last 2, he is the winner.

He may yet fall due to Gove, and other, supporters ganging up to knock him out of the race.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

All interesting stuff, and the general theme seems to be that whoever ends up in Number 10 will be there not because they are a competent leader, but because of who they did/didn't fall foul of in the past

. . . so that's definitely Jeremy Clarkson out then :D :D

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

That's guesswork - and you're terrified of a second referendum - which says to me you aren't so confident in your opinion.

---------- Post added at 13:48 ---------- Previous post was at 13:44 ----------

It doesn't really matter - the next PM is only an interim one anyway until they, once again, fail to deliver Brexit on time and/or lose a general election.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I do wish you would stop referring to a second referendum. To make it clear. The first referendum was in 1975 when the electorate decided on a majority of those who decided to be bothered to vote that we would remain in the EEC (as the EU was then known).

In 2016 the electorate were offered a second referendum on membership of the EU. Based on information we did not have back in 1975 a majority of the electorate who could be bothered to vote decided we should leave.

Egro we have already had 2 referendums (referenda?) the second being based on more information than available on the first.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Pointless pedantry. Thenext referendum then... which I anticipate this year or early next year. I fail to see the point in wasting my time for this clarification when we both know you knew what I meant.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

You have absolutely no proof that Brexiteers have changed their minds about leaving. No-one I know has, and whenever somebody prattles that nonsense on Question Time, they are met with howls of incredulity by leavers.

You always demand proof when someone doesn't agree with your take on things, but you come up with this garbage with absolutely no proof whatsoever.

A second referendum is totally unnecessary and would waste even more time as well as increase divisions in the country still further. We don't want that, we want to get on with Brexit. The public already feel betrayed because we missed the March deadline and Theresa May failed to take the opportunity then to get out with no deal.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Haha Question Time audiences - that old grey representative bunch of the UK public. Laughable to believe that's indicative of anything.

A second (third for the benefit of whoever claimed we've had two) referendum would be an effective use of time - it would be decisive and eliminate all of the criticisms of the first. It'd also give a clear mandate to Parliament to deliver - something it has not done so far and will not do come October.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Tonight's EU election results should do that.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

It won't. The turnout just won't be high enough for anything meaningful to come from it. It will get dismissed as a protest vote.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

You mean just as those who used the referendum as a protest vote?

If it is a protest vote does that not send a message that the electorate want the result of the referendum to be carried out as promised?

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

And what if leavers stayed away from another referendum because they have already given their answer? That would lead to a 'remain' vote, but it wouldn't mean leavers had changed their minds.

Another referendum would simply confuse an already complex situation, which of course is what you want.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Not in the numbers likely to have voted. It'll be less than 17 million, and despite the headlines adding up 'remain' parties and apportioning some of the Labour vote (nobody knows where they stand) and it'll be close between leave/remain to the extent it can't be verified other than it's bad news for the Conservatives.

If it was to stand up at a general election, with the looming fear of Marxism, it'd be interesting to see. We might get to find out in the Autumn.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Venezuela here we come, then!:rolleyes:

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

We would welcome a 2nd Ref and a General Election.

I think Remain and Labour, respectively, are seriously mis-calculating the countries feelings outside of the M25.


The Local Elections gave notice to the main parties that their vote is not guaranteed. The Brexit party didn’t field candidates so the winners by default were the LibDems and independents. LibDems vote was not because of their Remain ticket.

We’ll see at the EU elections how well hey do on their Remain ticket, I predict not too great.

Any 2nd ref would result in a very narrow win for either side, I would still go for Leave by a whisker.

Any GE would result in a hung parliament.

I would preferably exit the EU then hold the GE in 2022 when we had time for the dust to settle and Labour to come up with a policy.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Who is 'We'?. Haven't heard any Brexiteers crying out for a new referendum/GE.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

The calls for a new referendum/GE have been from some remainers.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I think Pierre meant 'I' not 'we'.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Correct, I only speak for myself. Sorry.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Ok, fair enough.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

There's members of this forum that voted leave and have since changed their minds, I wonder if there's still more that have decided not to make it public to or what it might translate to amongst the general populace :shrug:

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

There's members of this forum that voted remain and have since changed their minds, I wonder if there's still more that have decided not to make it public too or what it might translate to amongst the general populace :shrug::eeek:

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Well, the leave parties won by a margin of 17.8%, so I would say the Brexit debate is now over. We need to leave the EU and the next leader of the Conservative Party will need to work out how to achieve that by 31 October latest.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

:D :D

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Love your new-found sense of irony, Old Boy! :D

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I wonder this too. We could ask them?

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Ok has anyone on this forum changed their mind ??


job done awaits reply's.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

One thing thats common with all the candidates is they care more about being PM than Brexit. Once power is grabbed their principles will desert them. Boris in particular took an age to decide which side he was on when the referendum was announced, hardly committed ! Indeed he wrote an article for backing Remain in the Times, before then deciding to back Leave 2 days later! https://www.standard.co.uk/news/poli...-a3370296.html

No principles any of them, power is everything.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Power corrupts sadly Mr K as principles tend to be ditched once they have reached power.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Every one and their dog thinks it's going to be Boris,that's what i'm picking up from the TV.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Look at previous Tory leadership contests as often the favourites have been beaten by conciliatory candidates who can unite the warring factions within the Conservative party.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Oiley snake Gove, he'll pounce when the time is right.... Bozza will be left sobbing again.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

I don't think it's possible to unite the two sides a new pm will have to pick a side and run with it.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

And so the internecine civil war in the Conservative party will go on and on and on...

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Yes great, isn't it ? :D

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Just for balance it applies to the Labour party as well.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Taking a look across the pond at the 23 Democratic candidates makes 11 candidates for PM seem reasonable.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Amusingly, there are now more Conservative leadership candidates (11) than there are Conservative MEPs (9).

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Enough for a football team at least as all they need now is a manager.;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Think you can rule Hancock out, he was a shambles on Breakfast tv this morning. Couldn't explain why councils were running out of money and couldn't care for the elderly in future. Maybe it was a bit early for him but Naga Munchetty ripped him apart and left a stuttering mess...

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Small flaw in your otherwise reasonable argument - you’re assuming competency will be a deciding factor in the leadership election... ;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

When you watch interviews like this one, it is unthinkable that any sane person would want Boris for PM:

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Doubt it

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48445430

My thoughts are that regardless of what happens the tories will not want a potential leader to be anywhere near this as they attempt to rebuild the party and it's profile. They'll want whiter than white (image, not race)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Boris might self-detonate on the campaign trial again.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Given his aptitude for king size gaffes l would say that is highly likely.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Well he is due in court soon ;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

:clap:

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Which back stabber shall we pick then?

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Today, I'm officially announcing I'm standing for leadership of the Conservative Party. I'm not a member but shouldn't be a problem, as lying is a prerequisite.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Not true.

It’s not a prerequisite, just desirable (in the job description).

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

You can join a Conservative club Mr K as that is something to consider for yourself.;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Obviously, you think that other political parties are squeaky clean, Mr K. In which case you are extremely gullible!

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

None of the parties are squeaky clean end of....

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

That’s an "interesting" interpretation...

That’s like thinking if Mr K said "I like carrots", interpreting it to mean "I hate all other vegetables"... ;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

No, it's not. The clear insinuation of Mr K's comment was that only Conservative MPs lied.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

To you, perhaps...

For instance, in this thread two days ago, Mr K stated In another thread, when someone posted that perhaps those earning more should pay more tax, you interpreted that to mean they thought everyone should earn the same, when they hadn’t even mentioned that.

What you thought they thought they meant they thought isn’t always what they thought you’d think they’d thought (I think). ;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Yes, very confusing. However, perhaps we can all agree that laid back uptown people lie. I feel a song coming on....:tired:

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

If you're a Remainer in the Conservative Party, Boris could be a sane choice for you. With his track record exposed in this video, he could be the one Brexiter to "betray" Brexit and get away with it! ;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Just for the record, I don't want Boris.

I have seen Trump in action and the last thing we need is another buffoon.

But I do want a sensible Brexiteer with vision!!

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

No comment.:D
The closest to that is Michael Gove.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Strange you say you don't want Boris but you were praising him the other day and said he was a cert to be Tory leader.;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

OB has a right a change his mind, as does anyone who voted for Brexit ;).

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

But l am talking about potential leaders of the Conservative party as Brexit is for another thread.;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Well Trump has endorsed Boris, so that, and the court case should be final coffin nails !

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

The best vision for Brexit is to put it in the bin.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

The more I listen to Rory Stewart, the more I like him and the more I am fearful of the ones likely to win. In this interview, he very articulately explains why a No Deal Brexit is so wrong, amongst other things.

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

David Cameron's memoirs will highlight Michael Gove's betrayal of him
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...bbing-michael/

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Brutus will be up in arms.;)

Re: Leadership who is the next PM?
 

Getting absolutely bored stupid with everyone and his dog getting their names & faces in the media saying how a 'no deal' Brexit will damage the country beyond belief . . .

erm, how about getting your heads together and trying to work out a deal that is agreeable to both the UK and the EU then . . . because if you don't, then it's gonna happen

oh I forgot, nobody wants us to leave, especially the EU :rolleyes: