The new prime minister is.....

[jamesbrown]

There are too many runners for Cabinet positions and it doesn't really work like that anyway. The person in second place will probably be offered a position. Other good performers that are not in Cabinet will probably be offered a position (e.g., Kemi Badenoch). Existing Secretaries of State will probably be retained or shuffled sideways to a large extent because massive reshuffles expend quite a lot of political capital and the current state of the Parliamentary Tory party is, er, pretty parlous. These competitions are usually "change" vs "status quo" on some level, which translates roughly into everyone-but-Rishi vs. Rishi in this case, so I would expect more changes if Rishi lost, although he would get rid of Rees Mogg and Dorries, obvs.

[malvolio]

There are too many runners for Cabinet positions and it doesn't really work like that anyway. The person in second place will probably be offered a position. Other good performers that are not in Cabinet will probably be offered a position (e.g., Kemi Badenoch). Existing Secretaries of State will probably be retained or shuffled sideways to a large extent because massive reshuffles expend quite a lot of political capital and the current state of the Parliamentary Tory party is, er, pretty parlous. These competitions are usually "change" vs "status quo" on some level, which translates roughly into everyone-but-Rishi vs. Rishi in this case, so I would expect more changes if Rishi lost, although he would get rid of Rees Mogg and Dorries, obvs.

That is the whole problem. The Tory party are not in a parlous position vis-a-vis seats in the House, it's just that too many back benchers and few junior nobodies think they can do a better job. Which is why we are where we are.

Should Rishi win, then yes, there would be a shift in direction but not, I suspect, one that most of us would welcome. For example, why does he fail to understand that lowering taxes that affect purchasing such as VAT, results in more tax income? We need a properly Tory economic policy, not a Brown one and not one written by someone who is completely insulated (or is that isolated) from real world economics. Pointless lowering the national debt ( a fairly specious measure, and one which isn't as bad as several other G7 countries anyway) if your people can't afford to live.

[jamesbrown]

That is the whole problem. The Tory party are not in a parlous position vis-a-vis seats in the House, it's just that too many back benchers and few junior nobodies think they can do a better job. Which is why we are where we are.

Should Rishi win, then yes, there would be a shift in direction but not, I suspect, one that most of us would welcome. For example, why does he fail to understand that lowering taxes that affect purchasing such as VAT, results in more tax income? We need a properly Tory economic policy, not a Brown one and not one written by someone who is completely insulated (or is that isolated) from real world economics. Pointless lowering the national debt ( a fairly specious measure, and one which isn't as bad as several other G7 countries anyway) if your people can't afford to live.

It would be hard to do a worse job than Boris, TBF. I think most of us who had reservations about him suspected it would end like this. He isn't a serious person. I mean, it was quite surprising he made it through the leadership contest without imploding. You can't say the same about Rishi, for example, although I'd personally want pretty much anyone but Rishi for the policy reasons you mention. The Tories are stuffed, IMHO. Rishi may be somewhat popular with the public, but he's on a declining trajectory and I doubt he'd manage more than a hung Parliament. But look at the others too and it's hard to find someone who might do much better. Perhaps Kemi Badenoch, but there's no way MPs will put her in the final two. Perhaps Penny Mordaunt, although I think she's probably quite fake/dishonest about her views and will likely implode later. The 80-seat (or now 70-seat or whatever) majority is old news.

[SueEllen]

The 80-seat (or now 70-seat or whatever) majority is old news.

And Corbyn should be thanked for helping the Tories secure it.

[jamesbrown]

And Corbyn should be thanked for helping the Tories secure it.

Right, that and the Brexit question. Those circumstances will not be repeated. The absolute best the Tories could possibly hope for would be a much reduced majority, and that looks vanishingly unlikely from the current vantage, although you never know - things change quickly in politics. I wouldn't rule out Labour being in crisis in a few months time if the Tories do manage to select someone competent - afterall, Starmer ain't changing and he's really a gift to the Tories, even if not on the level of Corbyn.

[saptastic]

who is kemi badenoch? She is appeared from nowhere and looks more right wing that suella !!!!!!

[SueEllen]

who is kemi badenoch? She is appeared from nowhere and looks more right wing that suella !!!!!!

A woman who will cross the road to get into a fight and can out anti-woke anyone here.

[d000hg]

A question: you need 20MPs to back you to stand, but does each MP only get to support one person or can an MP support all the candidates they think should be part of the contest?

who is kemi badenoch? She is appeared from nowhere and looks more right wing that suella !!!!!!

Is that the one who basically said "too many people are getting in-work benefits" and vowed to stop it?

[d000hg]

Aww, bless

One candidate who we haven't heard much from today is Rehman Chishti - a junior Foreign Office minister and a surprise contender.

The Gillingham MP has not received one single public backer among Tory MPs, however Rehman has tweeted that he will "continue my candidature till the very end".

[WTFH]

A question: you need 20MPs to back you to stand, but does each MP only get to support one person or can an MP support all the candidates they think should be part of the contest?

They get 1 vote per round. (Apart from Grant Shapps who has 4 votes, using his other names... Michael Green, Corinne Stockheath and Sebastian Fox )