Vote Cast

The secret location, somewhere in Yorkshire and Humberside, was the Barbican in York.  Convenient geographically but I decided not to go.  I felt I had already heard enough and had made up my mind.  I think my decision was vindicated when a friend, who attended, sent me this report:

“Having seen both candidates last night, and heard the debate extended well beyond Brexit (which I confess was a cardinal omission in respect of my comments below), my own views are firmer than ever. If we want a PM likely to convince the country of the advantages of leaving the EU, achieve our departure on time, deal with violent crime, introduce effective strategies to drive up the growth rate, drive forward economic development beyond London and the South East, restore some confidence in democracy, and have the slightest chance of beating his rivals in the next General Election (and that means not only Corbyn but perhaps even more importantly for us Nigel Farage, from whom we desperately need to win back disillusioned voters) my own personal view is this:

Erase any lingering doubts form our minds that ‘It Has to be Hunt’ and replace them forthwith with ‘It Had Better Be Boris!!”

My Times today reports that Jeremy Hunt is urging members to wait and see – to assess the TV debates and “try before you buy.”  However, the same newspaper, in its editorial, concludes that Boris is “the only candidate with a credible chance of meeting the three challenges correctly identified in his campaign strategy:  deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Mr Corbyn.”  I don’t think there is anything more Jeremy Hunt could say that would convince me that he was the better candidate in these three critical regards.  So that’s it – my vote is cast and in the post.

How could you believe me when I said I loved you when you know I’ve been a liar all my life?

“How could you believe me when I said I loved you when you know I’ve been a liar all my life?”  That used to be the longest song title in the catalogue, a while ago, but Google indicates that there are much longer contenders around today.  It came to mind when thinking about the Conservative leadership contenders and what to make of their respective manifestos to leave the EU by 31 October 2019.  Theresa May was a remainer but she said she had converted to the leave cause.  How many times did she parrot “Brexit means Brexit?”  She did not fulfil her promise.  Jeremy Hunt was a remainer but he now says he can negotiate an exit on 31 October (plus a little wriggle room for contingencies). He sounds sincere and his plans are far more detailed and developed than his rival, Boris.  But Theresa May sounded sincere and look how she turned out?  Will Jeremy revert to type when the going gets tough?  That is my nagging doubt.  Boris, on the other hand, in much more of a “big hand, small map” approach tells us we are leaving on 31 October, no ifs and no buts. Although he kept his powder dry for a while during the Referendum campaign, he eventually declared for leave and has been consistent in outlook since.  I don’t mind the lack of detail too much.  Good leaders don’t, necessarily, need nit-picking qualities provided they enjoy the gift of delegation, and Boris has certainly shown his powers of leadership in complex projects during his time as mayor of London.  But the tie-breaker for Boris, in my opinion, could be that he is much more likely to limit the damage of, nay win, an early general election, than Jeremy.

I haven’t received my ballot paper and I haven’t made up my mind, quite, but I am leaning to Boris.  Meantime, I have been invited to a top-secret location somewhere in Yorkshire and Humberside to listen to the two rivals debate.  I have submitted a question: “would you give a Cabinet appointment that involved safeguarding state secrets to Gavin Williamson?”  I would expect a simple yes or no in reply.

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?

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