Boris Johnson on course for Tory leadership showdown with Theresa May

[SueEllen]

Apparently Labour is going to split into a left wing Corbyn party and a centre left other Labour MP party.

So they are fighting over the Labour name and party machine.

[bobspud]

Lovely. Now that Osborne is done with the economy he can try his skills in foreign relations ...

I'd rather he was screwing the overseas aid budget up than the treasury

[Kraut]

Has Boris even nominated himself yet? Well he's got until tomorrow lunch time, but he's probably secretly hoping not to win this, so he won't be held responsible for delivering on all those promises which led to his unexpected Brexit victory. That notorious liar poor sod never meant to win; he wanted to boost his career for the next general election. Now, his career is likely over by end of October at the very latest.

I actually would like to see him as PM for a couple of weeks (he won't last much longer). He should be the one to trigger Article 50. Won't take the opposition long to get their act together once BoJo starts breaking all promises that he hasn't U-turned on already.

[MrMarkyMark]

Lovely. Now that Osborne is done with the economy he can try his skills in foreign relations ...

The history degree could, if he wasn't such a muppet, prove a remotely relevant qualification at last

[SueEllen]

Labour wants Corbyn to stand down but no one has come forward to stand against him.

[jamesbrown]

Labour wants Corbyn to stand down but no one has come forward to stand against him.

Personally, I think Corbyn will eventually give up. He knows that he'd win again, but there are only two possible outcomes now, neither of which leave a good legacy: 1) the party splits immediately; or 2) the party is reshaped through deselection (probably also resulting a new party of Blairite MPs). The word is that McDonnell is currently persuading him to stay on, but it's clear his position is untenable when he can't even fill 50% of Shadow Cabinet positions. That isn't going to change if he's reelected, so mass deselection and a GE will be the only hope.

However, even when Corbyn goes, I think Labour are dead for the foreseeable future. Standing on a manifesto to reverse the referendum decision would be the final nail in the coffin but, either way, it's an existential crisis between the PLP, wider party, and the electorate, not simply a crisis of leadership. The Tories are in a complete mess too, but it's not existential.

[JozefBlofeld]

May is capable and will p*ss people off where she thinks is necessary.

You seriously think she is capable *and* will trigger Article 50? And not let Boris Johnson clear up his own handiwork?

[dx4100]

Corbyn is holding out for chilcot so he can apologise and call for Tony's head on a plate. That is all he wants...

Just doesn't fit with the countries need to have a working government and opposition right now.

Well done Out.. You really ****ed it all up didn't you....

[darmstadt]

So it was the Daily Mail wot started it all, wonder how many more little secrets will drop out of the ether: Sarah Vine accidentally sends secret Tory leadership email to a member of the public | Coffee House

Very important that we focus now on the individual obstacles and thoroughly overcome them before moving to the next.
I really think Michael needs to have a Henry or a Beth [Gove’s Special Advisors] with him for this morning’s critical meetings.
One simple message you MUST have SPECIFIC assurances from Boris OTHERWISE you cannot guarantee your support.
The details can be worked out later on, but without that you have no leverage.
Crucially the membership will not have the necessary reassurance to back Boris, neither will Dacre / Murdoch, who instinctively dislike Boris but trust your ability enough to support a Boris / Gove ticket.
Do not concede any ground. Be your stubborn best.
GOOD LUCK

Sarah Vine, Daily Mail columnist and wife of Michael Gove

[VectraMan]

Apparently Labour is going to split into a left wing Corbyn party and a centre left other Labour MP party.

So they are fighting over the Labour name and party machine.

I wonder if they'll call it the SDP.