Conservative Party's chronicles

[1andrew1]

Down to fourth place in the polls.

A new voting intention poll has placed the Conservative Party in fourth place behind the Liberal Democrats, with Reform UK still in front with a clear lead.

According to the YouGov poll for Sky News/The Times, Nigel Farage‘s Reform are up to 29 per cent, with Labour trailing on 22 per cent after dropping a point.

The Lib Dems are third on 17 per cent, with the Conservatives down to 16 per cent after slumping another two points.

The survey looks set to increase pressure on Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, after her party’s historically poor performance at the local elections.

https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2025...dems-new-poll/

[papa smurf]

Reform in first place quite the achievement
Nigel Farage‘s Reform are up to 29 per cent, with Labour trailing on 22 per cent after dropping a point.

The Lib Dems are third on 17 per cent, with the Conservatives down to 16 per cent after slumping another two points.

[Sephiroth]

Labour on (a lowly) 22% is more than they deserve.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Down to fourth place in the polls.


https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2025...dems-new-poll/

Let's see if we can get them down to 6th to 7th.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Labour on (a lowly) 22% is more than they deserve.

Lets see if we can get them down to 6th or 7th

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Russ

Let's see if we can get them down to 6th to 7th.

I expect once they acknowledge and get a new leader, the Conservatives will reclaim 3rd place.

Badenoch is a dream come true for Reform UK and Labour but she won't be there at the next election.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I expect once they acknowledge and get a new leader, the Conservatives will reclaim 3rd place.

Badenoch is a dream come true for Reform UK and Labour but she won't be there at the next election.

Not sure about that, but I know what you mean.

My party leader has chosen a front bench of professional back-stabbers; in other words, previous leadership contenders whom she is keen not to have them plotting here downfall. But plotting her downfall, they are; that's what our politicians are generally like.

Although she might not be there at the next election, (or even if she is still there), a front bench cleanout is required and new blood brought in from the back benches, carefully introduced as to there credentials and with sensible, achievable policies to offer.

I think this is too much to hope for.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I expect once they acknowledge and get a new leader, the Conservatives will reclaim 3rd place.

Badenoch is a dream come true for Reform UK and Labour but she won't be there at the next election.

At the rate the Tories are joining Farage’s loopy lot there won’t be a Conservative Party at the next election.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Russ

At the rate the Tories are joining Farage’s loopy lot there won’t be a Conservative Party at the next election.

Yes - a possibility for all intents and purposes.

But Reform isn't as loopy as you as you like to think. Farage needs to consolidate by coming up with workable policies that people can see as achievable. If he can't do that, then we'll be even more sunk at the next GE.

Conservatives need to shape up along the lines I've already described.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

But Reform isn't as loopy as you as you like to think.

Oh I’m not so sure. In his haste to be seen as a legitimate party he recruited more than the average number of fruitcakes to join his ranks, later weeding some of them out by claiming to have “improved” (also known as ‘created’) the party vetting process.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Russ

Oh I’m not so sure. In his haste to be seen as a legitimate party he recruited more than the average number of fruitcakes to join his ranks, later weeding some of them out by claiming to have “improved” (also known as ‘created’) the party vetting process.

That is indeed a possibility - basically prejudiced people (some might call far right-wing). I expect Farage to ensure that candidates selected for the GE are probably clean. That's some task but may well be necessary.

Essentially, the people being polled sign up to Farage's message in the context of a pox on the other parties. The nearer we get to the GE, the public will want to be confidant that the 'fruitcakes' do not rule the party.

Me? I'm a paid up Conservative and my party's upper echelon fall into a different sort of 'fruitcake' category.

As for Labour, bustards doesn't cover it.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Not sure about that, but I know what you mean.

My party leader has chosen a front bench of professional back-stabbers; in other words, previous leadership contenders whom she is keen not to have them plotting here downfall. But plotting her downfall, they are; that's what our politicians are generally like.

Although she might not be there at the next election, (or even if she is still there), a front bench cleanout is required and new blood brought in from the back benches, carefully introduced as to there credentials and with sensible, achievable policies to offer.

I think this is too much to hope for.

There's also the question of what the Conservative Party actually stands for in 2025. Some of its previous strengths have been trashed.

• Efficiency through privatisation - this mantra worked well for it in the 1980s but some are now coming back to bite the Party (think Thames Water, British Steel, railways, nuclear power).
• Party of sound governance and finance - high budget deficit, poor Brexit deal, rapid turnover of PMs, PPE scandal and bankrupt Conservative councils like Slough and Woking have put paid to this reputation.
• Party of law and order - see Partygate, PPE scandal, BoJo keeping his mates like Chris Pincher and Owen Paterson in place despite their misdemeanours.
• Party for business - poor Brexit deal, advocating for Brexit against British business' wishes, Liz Truss' calamity stint and the general economy. (They were unlucky with the inflation resulting from Ukraine invasion)
• Party of low taxation - introduced highest tax burden since WW2. (Since higher under current government)

[Russ]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

There's also the question of what the Conservative Party actually stands for in 2025. Some of its previous strengths have been trashed.

• Efficiency through privatisation - this mantra worked well for it in the 1980s but some are now coming back to bite the Party (think Thames Water, British Steel, railways, nuclear power).
• Party of sound governance and finance - high budget deficit, poor Brexit deal, rapid turnover of PMs, PPE scandal and bankrupt Conservative councils like Slough and Woking have put paid to this reputation.
• Party of law and order - see Partygate, PPE scandal, BoJo keeping his mates like Chris Pincher and Owen Paterson in place despite their misdemeanours.
• Party for business - poor Brexit deal, advocating for Brexit against British business' wishes, Liz Truss' calamity stint and the general economy. (They were unlucky with the inflation resulting from Ukraine invasion)
• Party of low taxation - introduced highest tax burden since WW2. (Since higher under current government)

Barring a miracle of Biblical proportions I genuinely (and happily) believe the Tories are a spent force who will not be taken seriously as a potential government for decades.

Bullshitting Boris truly left a lasting legacy but certainly not the one he hoped for.

How long were the Tories in power before Starmer was victorious?

[thenry]

14 years wasn't it.. I think.

How many years was it with a condom on