The Leadership Contest

I am taking an interest in the Conservative Party Leadership contest but I haven’t made up my mind which way to cast my vote.  In the end, I will vote for the candidate who gives me most confidence that they will get the UK out of the EU (properly) in accordance with the Referendum result.  The rest of their respective manifestos will just be froth, anyway.  Amber Rudd says optimism is not enough to effect an EU exit. Quite so but, as James Forsyth points out, optimism is an essential ingredient of an exit strategy and has been conspicuously lacking during the May tenure. Jeremy Hunt seems cautious and, Mikawber-like, seems to favour kicking the can down the road.  Something indeed might turn up but, listening to the bellicose statements from various EU sources, that something is unlikely to be volunteered by the EU. Boris seems more inclined to force the issue with the EU and the fact that the media, particularly the BBC, are going out of their way to discredit everything he says leads me to believe he may be on to something.  I shall watch with interest.  Meantime, should Boris express a similar sentiment to our negotiating Civil Service as he recently bestowed upon “business,” then that would swing his candidature for me!

Stop Boris

I caught the beginning on Any Questions on BBC Radio 4 whilst driving today. The first question was to the effect of what did the panel think about the prospect of appointing the British equivalent of Donald Trump as Prime Minister? The audience went wild with raucous cheering, whistling and general whooping at the announcement of the question which Dimbleby appeared quite content to continue to make the point of the popularity of the subject. The first panellist was castigating in her criticism and cheered at every turn by the fired-up assembly. When Andrew Mitchell attempted, very moderately, to point out some of Boris’ strengths, he was howled down with cries of derision.


Matthew Parris, who claims to be a Conservative, rehearsed the line he had taken in his article in the Times today. Parris claims that Boris’ current parliamentary support is “cowardly and preferment-seeking” but that “the real grown-ups,” the national membership will see through Boris’ failings and elect someone else; Gove Hunt or Stewart hopes Parris.


I think Parris’ analysis is wrong and wishful thinking. He misses the obvious motive that, whatever happens over our relationship with the EU, a general election is likely. MPs are holding their noses and backing Boris because he is the most likely to win. MPs are not backing Boris, selfishly, in anticipation of preferment, although, no doubt, they should be suitably grateful in due course. The simple truth is that Boris is the Conservative Party’s best chance of stopping Corbyn. Er, that's it, as they say in Private Eye.


Turning to Parris’ hopes that the discerning membership will see through Boris and select someone of substance like Gove, Stewart and Hunt, he may well have a point. Last time round, as a Conservative Party member, I was branded a swivel eyed loon and quite unfit to choose the next PM. I objected and was just about to be invited to speak on Radio Five Live when everything changed and the producer thanked me for waiting and cut to Graham Brady who announced the coronation of Mrs May. But if the Conservative Party Membership was branded quite unfit to select a future Prime Minister in 2016, what is it that Matthew Parris has discovered that causes him to conclude that the membership are no longer extreme loons but have become the real grown-ups? Or is this just more of the increasingly bitter Parris’ wishful thinking?

Reasons to be Respectful to The President of the USA