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? No10 braced for leadership onslaught tonight. Aides expecting incoming fire from senior party figures going public imminently ?

Read the full story here

TheScreamingEagles

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

Andy_JS

Where on earth has this come from? Can't believe they really have 54 names. You'd think Nadine Dorries was still an MP from the number of times you still hear from her.

ydoethur

Andy_JS said:

Where on earth has this come from? Can't believe they really have 54 names.

Jacob Rees-Mogg on his own accounts for about 37.

Not just his initials but his ego.

isam

ConHome article this morning basically said ‘Get Rid’

https://conservativehome.com/2024/01/23/peter-franklin-why-we-shouldnt-rule-out-changing-prime-ministers-again/

Carnyx

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

kle4

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treading water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Benpointer

Where's Brenda from Bristol when we need her?

TheScreamingEagles

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

biggles

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

If I squint, I can just about see the case (this is not my view btw) to bring back Boris and wait six months before you go to the polls, because he at least secured the mandate last time.

The problem is he’s not in the House.

Andy_JS

2 years is a long time in Australia to go without a leadership spill.

TheScreamingEagles

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

There is a logic behind his comments.

There will be no opportunity for the SNP to try to stymie the Rwanda bill as it makes its way through the Lords despite the party’s strong opposition to the proposals.

It is understood that there have been multiple occasions in recent years where senior SNP figures have had to approach “friendly” peers to put forward amendments to legislation on behalf of the nationalists.

There have been growing calls among independence supporters for the SNP to revise its policy of refusing to engage with the Lords. In December, Stephen Noon, the chief strategist of the Yes campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, argued that there needed to be “ambassadors for independence in the institutional heart of the UK”.

Casino_Royale

It will be the Mad Nad mob. They won't prevail.

Still. Doesn't help.

ydoethur

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

It is worth remembering that John Howard managed eleven and a half years without a single challenge. Despite the presence of the sulky Peter Costello.

In the seventeen years since there have been seven (if we count Rudd twice).

turbotubbs

Benpointer said:

Where's Brenda from Bristol when we need her?

At a guess somewhere in Bristol…

Clutch_Brompton

Has the moment come for Liz Truss?

DavidL

The Tories are in a difficult spot and Sunak first promising amendments to the Rwanda (Lunacy) Bill and then voting them all down has clearly made some enemies in the party. But this is too stupid even for them.

TheScreamingEagles

Clutch_Brompton said:

Has the moment come for Liz Truss?

Lettuce hope so.

biggles

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

It is worth remembering that John Howard managed eleven and a half years without a single challenge. Despite the presence of the sulky Peter Costello.

In the seventeen years since there have been seven (if we count Rudd twice).

Most people find it hard to count him once.

david_herdson

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

AIUI, the SNP constitution (or rules?) bans their representatives from taking 'foreign' UK honours, or some such. But presumably they'd accept a defection from an existing peer who joined them, or an hereditary who was elected to the Lords.

HYUFD

This has shades of the 2009 botched coup for David Miliband v Gordon Brown which got nowhere.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/04/james-purnell-resigns-gordon-brown-cabinet

Carnyx

TheScreamingEagles said:

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

There is a logic behind his comments.

There will be no opportunity for the SNP to try to stymie the Rwanda bill as it makes its way through the Lords despite the party’s strong opposition to the proposals.

It is understood that there have been multiple occasions in recent years where senior SNP figures have had to approach “friendly” peers to put forward amendments to legislation on behalf of the nationalists.

There have been growing calls among independence supporters for the SNP to revise its policy of refusing to engage with the Lords. In December, Stephen Noon, the chief strategist of the Yes campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, argued that there needed to be “ambassadors for independence in the institutional heart of the UK”.

Sure, but it's in the party constitution. Like Clause 4 was for Labour, though admittedly not so much.

I'm suspecting some folk have deliberately misunderstood the wording of those statements. Some of us can't imagine 'engaging' with the second house without taking part in the pseudo-aristocratic shite that constitutes an essentual element of the official UK's idea of a modern democratic state.
.

HYUFD

Clutch_Brompton said:

Has the moment come for Liz Truss?

Been and gone, if you blinked and missed it it was autumn 2022.

The only moment for anyone might be for Penny Mordaunt but I doubt she has the numbers

DavidL

Ian Blackford less than 3 years ago:

"Accepting a peerage to an unelected house does not make it democratic it simply enshrines entitlement and privilege. To quote a phrase lording it over the rest of us."

Having a go at Ruth Davidson. Its amazing how perceptions can change.

david_herdson

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

Many MPs would make a difference to the Tory poll rating. Most of them southwards.

Three weeks on Thursday to the next pair of Tory by-election defences, by the way.

biggles

HYUFD said:

Clutch_Brompton said:

Has the moment come for Liz Truss?

Been and gone, if you blinked and missed it it was autumn 2022.

The only moment for anyone might be for Penny Mordaunt but I doubt she has the numbers

Perhaps Truss is going to do a ten year premiership in 50 day sprints? Government by “agile procurement” principles.

Carnyx

david_herdson said:

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

AIUI, the SNP constitution (or rules?) bans their representatives from taking 'foreign' UK honours, or some such. But presumably they'd accept a defection from an existing peer who joined them, or an hereditary who was elected to the Lords.

ISTR it's possibly happened before - but a very long time ago. I can't remember the name. Possibly before the current rules?

kle4

biggles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

If I squint, I can just about see the case (this is not my view btw) to bring back Boris and wait six months before you go to the polls, because he at least secured the mandate last time.

The problem is he’s not in the House.

I really still do not understand why he did not stick it out and stand in the by-election that would have come from the privileges report. The party would have been obliged to back him and there's a decent change he might have won, and he then he would have been able to claim the voters had vindicated him from trumped up attempts by his opponents (and and out of the party) to end his career.

This way he can play the martyr, but cannot launch a reverse coup because the Leader has to be an MP. So the moment he decided to quit was probably a sign he did not see a way back for the party, and wanted to be ready to pick up the pieces afterwards (in theory at any rate, they'll probably be on to the next generation by then).

kle4

TheScreamingEagles said:

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

There is a logic behind his comments.

There will be no opportunity for the SNP to try to stymie the Rwanda bill as it makes its way through the Lords despite the party’s strong opposition to the proposals.

It is understood that there have been multiple occasions in recent years where senior SNP figures have had to approach “friendly” peers to put forward amendments to legislation on behalf of the nationalists.

There have been growing calls among independence supporters for the SNP to revise its policy of refusing to engage with the Lords. In December, Stephen Noon, the chief strategist of the Yes campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, argued that there needed to be “ambassadors for independence in the institutional heart of the UK”.

Go the other way, go abstentionist.

Alphabet_Soup

The Tories' problem is that no-one can possibly imagine Sunak as PM for the next five years. He's a sub-postmaster manqué: a worthy, valuable member of the community but devoid of leadership capacity. They may as well roll the dice.

HYUFD

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

It is worth remembering that John Howard managed eleven and a half years without a single challenge. Despite the presence of the sulky Peter Costello.

In the seventeen years since there have been seven (if we count Rudd twice).

And Bob Hawke lasted 8 years as PM without a spill and Paul Keating 5 years before Howard.

Scott Morrison also never faced a spill challenging him as PM before he lost to Albanese in 2022.

The fact there were so many spills for PM between 2010 and 2018 was more due to the personality clashes and warring camps of Rudd v Gillard in Labor and Abbott v Turnbull in the Liberals

TheScreamingEagles

kle4 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

There is a logic behind his comments.

There will be no opportunity for the SNP to try to stymie the Rwanda bill as it makes its way through the Lords despite the party’s strong opposition to the proposals.

It is understood that there have been multiple occasions in recent years where senior SNP figures have had to approach “friendly” peers to put forward amendments to legislation on behalf of the nationalists.

There have been growing calls among independence supporters for the SNP to revise its policy of refusing to engage with the Lords. In December, Stephen Noon, the chief strategist of the Yes campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, argued that there needed to be “ambassadors for independence in the institutional heart of the UK”.

Go the other way, go abstentionist.

So right now the SNP are like Sinn Féin.

Luckyguy1983

TheScreamingEagles said:

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

There is a logic behind his comments.

There will be no opportunity for the SNP to try to stymie the Rwanda bill as it makes its way through the Lords despite the party’s strong opposition to the proposals.

It is understood that there have been multiple occasions in recent years where senior SNP figures have had to approach “friendly” peers to put forward amendments to legislation on behalf of the nationalists.

There have been growing calls among independence supporters for the SNP to revise its policy of refusing to engage with the Lords. In December, Stephen Noon, the chief strategist of the Yes campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, argued that there needed to be “ambassadors for independence in the institutional heart of the UK”.

I have suggested a bill to 'democratise' the House of Lords by awarding life peerages based on allocations to all the parties according to their vote percentages in the preceding GE. This would be far fairer than the current system of Prime Ministerial patronage.

One result of this would be severely discomfiting the SNP and their stance of not accepting peerages, for the reasons Blackford gives. How can you say the UK is a stitch up against Scotland when you're not taking up the representation to which you're entitled?

Stuartinromford

DavidL said:

The Tories are in a difficult spot and Sunak first promising amendments to the Rwanda (Lunacy) Bill and then voting them all down has clearly made some enemies in the party. But this is too stupid even for them.

Where do you think the cutoff between "stupid enough for them" and "too stupid for them" is?

Luckyguy1983

HYUFD said:

This has shades of the 2009 botched coup for David Miliband v Gordon Brown which got nowhere.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/04/james-purnell-resigns-gordon-brown-cabinet

What has shades of it? Has anyone actually said anything yet?

Carnyx

Luckyguy1983 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

There is a logic behind his comments.

There will be no opportunity for the SNP to try to stymie the Rwanda bill as it makes its way through the Lords despite the party’s strong opposition to the proposals.

It is understood that there have been multiple occasions in recent years where senior SNP figures have had to approach “friendly” peers to put forward amendments to legislation on behalf of the nationalists.

There have been growing calls among independence supporters for the SNP to revise its policy of refusing to engage with the Lords. In December, Stephen Noon, the chief strategist of the Yes campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, argued that there needed to be “ambassadors for independence in the institutional heart of the UK”.

I have suggested a bill to 'democratise' the House of Lords by awarding life peerages based on allocations to all the parties according to their vote percentages in the preceding GE. This would be far fairer than the current system of Prime Ministerial patronage.

One result of this would be severely discomfiting the SNP and their stance of not accepting peerages, for the reasons Blackford gives. How can you say the UK is a stitch up against Scotland when you're not taking up the representation to which you're entitled?

Missinmg the point. That would be fine. It's the honours system and PM patronage to which they object.

biggles

kle4 said:

biggles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

If I squint, I can just about see the case (this is not my view btw) to bring back Boris and wait six months before you go to the polls, because he at least secured the mandate last time.

The problem is he’s not in the House.

I really still do not understand why he did not stick it out and stand in the by-election that would have come from the privileges report. The party would have been obliged to back him and there's a decent change he might have won, and he then he would have been able to claim the voters had vindicated him from trumped up attempts by his opponents (and and out of the party) to end his career.

This way he can play the martyr, but cannot launch a reverse coup because the Leader has to be an MP. So the moment he decided to quit was probably a sign he did not see a way back for the party, and wanted to be ready to pick up the pieces afterwards (in theory at any rate, they'll probably be on to the next generation by then).

I agree. It implies he was certain of defeat and doesn’t fancy being LOTO, even though the evidence of Brexit campaigning is he’d be quite good at it and you can still make some cash on the side from that role.

Casino_Royale

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

That's the only serious choice to maybe save 180-190 seats over a wipeout.

However, it can't really work with him not being a MP anymore - you can't do PMQs from the Lords nor offer a prospectus to the British people without putting yourself up for election.

DavidL

Stuartinromford said:

DavidL said:

The Tories are in a difficult spot and Sunak first promising amendments to the Rwanda (Lunacy) Bill and then voting them all down has clearly made some enemies in the party. But this is too stupid even for them.

Where do you think the cutoff between "stupid enough for them" and "too stupid for them" is?

Somewhere north of the Rwanda bill so it is pretty high.

Carnyx

Stuartinromford said:

DavidL said:

The Tories are in a difficult spot and Sunak first promising amendments to the Rwanda (Lunacy) Bill and then voting them all down has clearly made some enemies in the party. But this is too stupid even for them.

Where do you think the cutoff between "stupid enough for them" and "too stupid for them" is?

Reminds me of a very nasty trick of some aircraft in some conditions, like the Fairey Swordfish when it was laden with searchlight, batteries, radar and depth charges. Its maximum possible level airspeed was only a few knots more than its stalling speed (i.e. the speed at which it was flying too slowly to keep up in the air at all).

dixiedean

Is there any confirmation of this rumour outwith Mad Nad, Harry Cole and an article in Con Home?
Hope not, cos I did my big shop and popcorn wasn't on the list.

kle4

One day an MP will genuinely float my suggestion of going into the election with no leader at all, and allowing each of the candidates to pitch their vision for the party separately in an attempt to cover all bases.

HYUFD

DavidL said:

Ian Blackford less than 3 years ago:

"Accepting a peerage to an unelected house does not make it democratic it simply enshrines entitlement and privilege. To quote a phrase lording it over the rest of us."

Having a go at Ruth Davidson. Its amazing how perceptions can change.

Having stood down as an MP at the next general election, Blackford has clearly decided entitlement and privilege, excellent bars and restaurants and lording it over the rest of us without having to care what the voters think has some appeal after all.

Wings is furious of course

https://wingsoverscotland.com/the-changing-times/

TheScreamingEagles

NEW

@GBNEWS understands a senior Tory MP is to call for Rishi Sunak to quit as Conservative leader in an article in a national newspaper tonight.
One rebel source said: “Someone who the PM really looks up to is calling time on the doom loop.”

https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1749897061695148342

david_herdson

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

It is worth remembering that John Howard managed eleven and a half years without a single challenge. Despite the presence of the sulky Peter Costello.

In the seventeen years since there have been seven (if we count Rudd twice).

Well, Britain's getting on for as bad. There have been 4 UK PMs since 2016, at an average of 2 years each. The five before that served an average of 7 years each. Obviously, the post-Brexit average will decline further if we get another two changes this year.

EPG

TheScreamingEagles said:

NEW

@GBNEWS understands a senior Tory MP is to call for Rishi Sunak to quit as Conservative leader in an article in a national newspaper tonight.
One rebel source said: “Someone who the PM really looks up to is calling time on the doom loop.”

https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1749897061695148342

So taller than 5'7"?

DavidL

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

First like Ian Blackford as the SNP's first member of the House of Lords.

The question is whether he'd even be an SNP member by the time he gets the vermin fur on. An interesting point.

There is a logic behind his comments.

There will be no opportunity for the SNP to try to stymie the Rwanda bill as it makes its way through the Lords despite the party’s strong opposition to the proposals.

It is understood that there have been multiple occasions in recent years where senior SNP figures have had to approach “friendly” peers to put forward amendments to legislation on behalf of the nationalists.

There have been growing calls among independence supporters for the SNP to revise its policy of refusing to engage with the Lords. In December, Stephen Noon, the chief strategist of the Yes campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, argued that there needed to be “ambassadors for independence in the institutional heart of the UK”.

Go the other way, go abstentionist.

So right now the SNP are like Sinn Féin.

If the SNP had gone abstentionist in 2015 when they had 56 out of 59 Scottish MPS they would have caused a constitutional crisis. But Nicola opted to keep the money rolling in instead. Thankfully I don't think they will have such an opportunity again.

HYUFD

Casino_Royale said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

That's the only serious choice to maybe save 180-190 seats over a wipeout.

However, it can't really work with him not being a MP anymore - you can't do PMQs from the Lords nor offer a prospectus to the British people without putting yourself up for election.

Depends if he wins back more voters from Starmer Labour and the LDs than the further leakage he causes to RefUK.

Though yes in reality he would have to stand as an MP again and I doubt he can be bothered, even his former constituency of Witney is a top 50 LD target seat next time

Stark_Dawning

TheScreamingEagles said:

NEW

@GBNEWS understands a senior Tory MP is to call for Rishi Sunak to quit as Conservative leader in an article in a national newspaper tonight.
One rebel source said: “Someone who the PM really looks up to is calling time on the doom loop.”

https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1749897061695148342

Jeremy Hunt?

isam

Sir Simon Clarke

Never heard of him!

ohnotnow

DavidL said:

Ian Blackford less than 3 years ago:

"Accepting a peerage to an unelected house does not make it democratic it simply enshrines entitlement and privilege. To quote a phrase lording it over the rest of us."

Having a go at Ruth Davidson. Its amazing how perceptions can change.

Perceptions, principles - it's all just clay to be remoulded every new dawn. Much like a ferry timetable.

MoonRabbit

On topic. Betting post.

Today, 23rd Jan, there’s just two political bets worth acting on.

A cast iron winner on GE date by quarter 2 at 9-2. And the slightly longer punt of NOM at 9-2, that could come into play with tightening during the campaign. I don’t buy this 11% Ref is getting being anti Tory when push comes to shove, my reasoning is firstly despite talking big and getting the Tory votes in elections up to the last GE, soon as starting gun fired, they were Tory voters, and secondly the idea a third of the 11% will likely split Labour is for the birds, Reform up 2 since Christmas Tories down 2, And you are arguing not all that 2 can go straight back to Tories, a third is now Labour? See how ludicrous it sounds? As ref krept up into double figures and Tory’s stood still despite pre election drift to them from Labour, where are you drawing the line a third of that ref pile will now vote Labour? You don’t know how much of that R will be swallowed by C in the closing stages of the campaign period. The truth is, you just don’t know. No one knows. Not this side of, at least the exit poll.

6th March is budget day, 42 days away. There’s 12 working week days in parliament between 7th March and the date of the dissolution on the 26th for 2nd May election.

TheScreamingEagles

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Carnyx

TheScreamingEagles said:

NEW

@GBNEWS understands a senior Tory MP is to call for Rishi Sunak to quit as Conservative leader in an article in a national newspaper tonight.
One rebel source said: “Someone who the PM really looks up to is calling time on the doom loop.”

https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1749897061695148342

Not like you NOT [ed. sorry!] to spot when someone is being mischievous. Think about the wording.

HYUFD

isam said:

Sir Simon Clarke

Never heard of him!

Former Liz Truss outrider, so no surprise

https://x.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116?s=20

ohnotnow

Stark_Dawning said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

NEW

@GBNEWS understands a senior Tory MP is to call for Rishi Sunak to quit as Conservative leader in an article in a national newspaper tonight.
One rebel source said: “Someone who the PM really looks up to is calling time on the doom loop.”

https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1749897061695148342

Jeremy Hunt?

The only one I can think of who would make a serious dent is William Hague.

Malmesbury

ohnotnow said:

DavidL said:

Ian Blackford less than 3 years ago:

"Accepting a peerage to an unelected house does not make it democratic it simply enshrines entitlement and privilege. To quote a phrase lording it over the rest of us."

Having a go at Ruth Davidson. Its amazing how perceptions can change.

Perceptions, principles - it's all just clay to be remoulded every new dawn. Much like a ferry timetable.

I thought ferry timetables were a blank page. A forever future?

stodge

Evening all

Changing (or "spilling" as I think it's called) in Australia doesn't always work. In New Zealand the opposition Labour party were heading for defeat when they dumped the uninspiring Andrew Little for Jacinda Ardern. She improved Labour's position from what had seemed likely and became Prime Minister after successfully forming a coalition with Winston Peters of NZ First.

The theory may be a change of leader close to the election (Boris Johnson took over only six months before in 2019) might create the image of a "new broom" with the new leader enjoying a honeymoon with the electorate during which the election could be either fought and won or (more likely) losses would be mitigated.

TheScreamingEagles

Carnyx said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

NEW

@GBNEWS understands a senior Tory MP is to call for Rishi Sunak to quit as Conservative leader in an article in a national newspaper tonight.
One rebel source said: “Someone who the PM really looks up to is calling time on the doom loop.”

https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1749897061695148342

Not like you NOT [ed. sorry!] to spot when someone is being mischievous. Think about the wording.

I didn't want to belittle Rishi Sunak at this difficult time.

Casino_Royale

TheScreamingEagles said:

NEW

@GBNEWS understands a senior Tory MP is to call for Rishi Sunak to quit as Conservative leader in an article in a national newspaper tonight.
One rebel source said: “Someone who the PM really looks up to is calling time on the doom loop.”

https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1749897061695148342

Probably a pun and it's JRM.

SeaShantyIrish2

My last quasi-learned comment re: 1964 NH Primary and it's Shocking Results is languishing near end of previous thread.

But will repeat my very trivial question

Q - Which two candidates on the 1976 New Hampshire primary ballot were fraternity brothers while attending the same Ivy League university? clue - Along with two future SCOTUS and a future US Secretary of State.


MoonRabbit asked IF the NH Primary was conducted by official officials OR if it was rigged.

Personally think it IS possible for PARTY organizations to conduct free and fair elections IF they wish. For example, as far as I can tell, last week's Iowa Republican precinct caucus voting was both well organized AND on the up-and-up.

As for New Hampshire, today's primary is conducted by public officials in each town, of which there are 271 including a few that are unorganized and have zero voters, also some with VERY few, for example Dixville (Notch) = 6 voters today.

Addendum - Would add, that last night I actually read through an election audit report by NH Secretary of State, on elections conducted in a particular town; the audit was called for by SOS due to discrepancies in reported election numbers, which turned out to be human error.

Stuartinromford

isam said:

Sir Simon Clarke

Never heard of him!

Sunak's Chief Sec when he was Chancellor. Then a Trussite.

Some cruel people thought that pairing them was a Johnson jape.

DavidL

biggles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

If I squint, I can just about see the case (this is not my view btw) to bring back Boris and wait six months before you go to the polls, because he at least secured the mandate last time.

The problem is he’s not in the House.

And if he was he would have been recalled.

Daveyboy1961

HYUFD said:

Casino_Royale said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

That's the only serious choice to maybe save 180-190 seats over a wipeout.

However, it can't really work with him not being a MP anymore - you can't do PMQs from the Lords nor offer a prospectus to the British people without putting yourself up for election.

Depends if he wins back more voters from Starmer Labour and the LDs than the further leakage he causes to RefUK.

Though yes in reality he would have to stand as an MP again and I doubt he can be bothered, even his former constituency of Witney is a top 50 LD target seat next time

He can't resign his lords seat and stand in the commons.

ohnotnow

Malmesbury said:

ohnotnow said:

DavidL said:

Ian Blackford less than 3 years ago:

"Accepting a peerage to an unelected house does not make it democratic it simply enshrines entitlement and privilege. To quote a phrase lording it over the rest of us."

Having a go at Ruth Davidson. Its amazing how perceptions can change.

Perceptions, principles - it's all just clay to be remoulded every new dawn. Much like a ferry timetable.

I thought ferry timetables were a blank page. A forever future?

That wouldn't keep nearly so many people gainfully employed. Imagine how many people might be kept busy writing out future timetables for the ever-changing delivery dates. It'd even keep GPT4 busy.

Benpointer

TheScreamingEagles said:

NEW

@GBNEWS understands a senior Tory MP is to call for Rishi Sunak to quit as Conservative leader in an article in a national newspaper tonight.
One rebel source said: “Someone who the PM really looks up to is calling time on the doom loop.”

https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1749897061695148342

That doesn't really narrow it down, does it.

kle4

isam said:

Sir Simon Clarke

Never heard of him!

One of the Truss Cabinet (and not someone already established and so able to keep their post), worked with Rishi in the Treasury.

DavidL

Malmesbury said:

ohnotnow said:

DavidL said:

Ian Blackford less than 3 years ago:

"Accepting a peerage to an unelected house does not make it democratic it simply enshrines entitlement and privilege. To quote a phrase lording it over the rest of us."

Having a go at Ruth Davidson. Its amazing how perceptions can change.

Perceptions, principles - it's all just clay to be remoulded every new dawn. Much like a ferry timetable.

I thought ferry timetables were a blank page. A forever future?

Only in the western Isles. And even there they have, well, not really a time table, more of an aspiration.

biggles

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

Now that David Cameron has recanted and is in favour of Brexit, who knows what else he would now be in favour of in power.

I mean, he’s a principled man right? He only supports causes/governments he believes in?

TheScreamingEagles

Brutal.

Benpointer

kle4 said:

isam said:

Sir Simon Clarke

Never heard of him!

One of the Truss Cabinet (and not someone already established and so able to keep their post), worked with Rishi in the Treasury.

Blimey, stood next to Sunak Simon Clarke looks really tall... he must be what, 5'10"?

DavidL

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

A legend in his own bathroom, no doubt.

david_herdson

Casino_Royale said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

That's the only serious choice to maybe save 180-190 seats over a wipeout.

However, it can't really work with him not being a MP anymore - you can't do PMQs from the Lords nor offer a prospectus to the British people without putting yourself up for election.

It would be possible for a peer to take questions in the Commons; Standing Orders could be amended. It was looked into in 1940, to take one example. And Cameron (or any peer) can resign from the Lords and stand for election, so he could return to the Commons if he really wanted to (subject to the voters, of course!).

isam

biggles said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

Now that David Cameron has recanted and is in favour of Brexit, who knows what else he would now be in favour of in power.

I mean, he’s a principled man right? He only supports causes/governments he believes in?

Cameron isn’t in favour of Brexit is he? I thought that was a misinterpreted quote from an interview with Laura Kuessenberg

Casino_Royale

Without the "s" ? Nah, almost as bad as how the Americans butcher maths:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68068503

Casino_Royale

david_herdson said:

Casino_Royale said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

That's the only serious choice to maybe save 180-190 seats over a wipeout.

However, it can't really work with him not being a MP anymore - you can't do PMQs from the Lords nor offer a prospectus to the British people without putting yourself up for election.

It would be possible for a peer to take questions in the Commons; Standing Orders could be amended. It was looked into in 1940, to take one example. And Cameron (or any peer) can resign from the Lords and stand for election, so he could return to the Commons if he really wanted to (subject to the voters, of course!).

He'd lose any conceivable by-election, I think.

I'll look up those Standing Orders.

david_herdson

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

biggles

isam said:

biggles said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

Now that David Cameron has recanted and is in favour of Brexit, who knows what else he would now be in favour of in power.

I mean, he’s a principled man right? He only supports causes/governments he believes in?

Cameron isn’t in favour of Brexit is he? I thought that was a misinterpreted quote from an interview with Laura Kuessenberg

He’s Foreign Secretary, he must be or else the entire agenda he’s pushing is one he doesn’t believe in. I assume he’s learned his lesson and seen the light.

(Joking aside, I only mock him in particular because of the hyperbole he used as leader of the remain campaign. It is quite funny to watch him have be a major part of a Government post-Brexit when we’re doing really well vs his strawman).

isam

All four people currently depicted on the reverse of Bank of England banknotes either died at the age of 41 or were portrayed in a film by Timothy Spall.

https://x.com/frankmpaul/status/1749738035946668337?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

dixiedean

Senior Tories aren't what they used to be.

TheScreamingEagles

david_herdson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

This is from last month.

— plots to oust Sunak are bubbling away under the surface

— allies of Liz Truss have held talks about coordinating letters

— some of them want Simon Clarke to be the candidate to replace him

— Truss denies plotting. Clarke says he wants govt to succeed

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1733417742001156162

Carnyx

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

isam said:

Sir Simon Clarke

Never heard of him!

One of the Truss Cabinet (and not someone already established and so able to keep their post), worked with Rishi in the Treasury.

Blimey, stood next to Sunak Simon Clarke looks really tall... he must be what, 5'10"?

Nah, less than that maybe. Foreshortened photo and no dog for scale.

MoonRabbit

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

My last quasi-learned comment re: 1964 NH Primary and it's Shocking Results is languishing near end of previous thread.

But will repeat my very trivial question

Q - Which two candidates on the 1976 New Hampshire primary ballot were fraternity brothers while attending the same Ivy League university? clue - Along with two future SCOTUS and a future US Secretary of State.


MoonRabbit asked IF the NH Primary was conducted by official officials OR if it was rigged.

Personally think it IS possible for PARTY organizations to conduct free and fair elections IF they wish. For example, as far as I can tell, last week's Iowa Republican precinct caucus voting was both well organized AND on the up-and-up.

As for New Hampshire, today's primary is conducted by public officials in each town, of which there are 271 including a few that are unorganized and have zero voters, also some with VERY few, for example Dixville (Notch) = 6 voters today.

Addendum - Would add, that last night I actually read through an election audit report by NH Secretary of State, on elections conducted in a particular town; the audit was called for by SOS due to discrepancies in reported election numbers, which turned out to be human error.

Thanks for the answer!

You are very valuable to the site.

Carnyx

biggles said:

isam said:

biggles said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

How often does it work in Australia? Albanese is coming up on 2 years, it must almost be time for him to be challenged or be ousted?

I'm sure it's right Rishi would win a challenge because of lack of clear alternatives, but we also know winning a challenge doesn't end discontent in leadership, and there is not much time to turn perceptions round after a year of at best treating water and at worst going backwards.

Who coming out now would make a big splash?

Only one person would make a difference.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

Now that David Cameron has recanted and is in favour of Brexit, who knows what else he would now be in favour of in power.

I mean, he’s a principled man right? He only supports causes/governments he believes in?

Cameron isn’t in favour of Brexit is he? I thought that was a misinterpreted quote from an interview with Laura Kuessenberg

He’s Foreign Secretary, he must be or else the entire agenda he’s pushing is one he doesn’t believe in. I assume he’s learned his lesson and seen the light.

Overt agenda, overt ...

TheScreamingEagles

isam said:

All four people currently depicted on the reverse of Bank of England banknotes either died at the age of 41 or were portrayed in a film by Timothy Spall.

https://x.com/frankmpaul/status/1749738035946668337?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

So when are we putting David Irving on a banknote?

DavidL

david_herdson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

And there's the rub. As it is it simply looks disloyal, self indulgent and Tory.

dixiedean

TheScreamingEagles said:

david_herdson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

This is from last month.

— plots to oust Sunak are bubbling away under the surface

— allies of Liz Truss have held talks about coordinating letters

— some of them want Simon Clarke to be the candidate to replace him

— Truss denies plotting. Clarke says he wants govt to succeed

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1733417742001156162

If the answer is Simon Clarke then you're asking the wrong question.
Unless the question is name a tall Tory who nobody approaching normal has ever heard of?

Luckyguy1983

....

david_herdson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

Yes, it will be interesting to see if Clarke nominates anyone (even himself) or hints at anyone in his piece.

TheScreamingEagles

dixiedean said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

david_herdson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

This is from last month.

— plots to oust Sunak are bubbling away under the surface

— allies of Liz Truss have held talks about coordinating letters

— some of them want Simon Clarke to be the candidate to replace him

— Truss denies plotting. Clarke says he wants govt to succeed

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1733417742001156162

If the answer is Simon Clarke then you're asking the wrong question.
Unless the question is name a tall Tory who nobody approaching normal has ever heard of?

100/1 to replace Sunak.

I'm on.

kle4

dixiedean said:

Senior Tories aren't what they used to be.

But with all the changes in leadership and Cabinets over the years we have more of them than ever.

Luckyguy1983

dixiedean said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

david_herdson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

This is from last month.

— plots to oust Sunak are bubbling away under the surface

— allies of Liz Truss have held talks about coordinating letters

— some of them want Simon Clarke to be the candidate to replace him

— Truss denies plotting. Clarke says he wants govt to succeed

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1733417742001156162

If the answer is Simon Clarke then you're asking the wrong question.
Unless the question is name a tall Tory who nobody approaching normal has ever heard of?

I somehow think if the chosen candidate is Clarke, he's not making a very good start writing his own article about himself.

biggles

TheScreamingEagles said:

david_herdson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

This is from last month.

— plots to oust Sunak are bubbling away under the surface

— allies of Liz Truss have held talks about coordinating letters

— some of them want Simon Clarke to be the candidate to replace him

— Truss denies plotting. Clarke says he wants govt to succeed

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1733417742001156162

Hmmm. Interesting English grammar point. If Simon Clarke wants Simon Clarke to be PM, does that count as “some” of the 300+ club he’s a member of?

DavidL

All 6 voters in Dixville Notch have apparently voted for Haley. Probably not a sign of things to come though.

isam

“Too often today people are ready to tell us: ‘This is not possible, that is not possible.’ I say: whatever the true interest of our country calls for is always possible.”

Get him back!

williamglenn

TheScreamingEagles said:

NEW

@GBNEWS understands a senior Tory MP is to call for Rishi Sunak to quit as Conservative leader in an article in a national newspaper tonight.
One rebel source said: “Someone who the PM really looks up to is calling time on the doom loop.”

https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1749897061695148342

The message to Sunak in full:

Don't you understand what we're trying to say
Can't you feel the fear we're feeling today?
When the election is called, there'll be no running away
There'll be no seats saved from your latest brainwave
Take a look at the polls, they're bound to scare your soul

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

TheScreamingEagles

Simon Clarke writes in the Telegraph:

“We have a clear choice. Stick with Rishi Sunak, take the inevitable electoral consequences, and give the Left a blank cheque to change Britain as they see fit.

Or we can change leader, and give our country and party a fighting chance.”

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1749901132569219254

Carnyx

isam said:

“Too often today people are ready to tell us: ‘This is not possible, that is not possible.’ I say: whatever the true interest of our country calls for is always possible.”

Get him back!

...

dixiedean

TheScreamingEagles said:

isam said:

All four people currently depicted on the reverse of Bank of England banknotes either died at the age of 41 or were portrayed in a film by Timothy Spall.

https://x.com/frankmpaul/status/1749738035946668337?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

So when are we putting David Irving on a banknote?

Barry from Auf Wiedersehn Pet would be more fitting.

kle4

TheScreamingEagles said:

david_herdson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

This is from last month.

— plots to oust Sunak are bubbling away under the surface

— allies of Liz Truss have held talks about coordinating letters

— some of them want Simon Clarke to be the candidate to replace him

— Truss denies plotting. Clarke says he wants govt to succeed

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1733417742001156162

He's 39 and has been an MP for even less time than Sunak had upon becoming PM, without the years as a Cabinet Minister as experience (such as that is worth, which is not much).

I don't believe age and experience automatically lead to wisdom, but I think pitching for younger and younger PMs is a strategy which does not work when the PM is already the youngest we'd had in 200 years.

HYUFD

dixiedean said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

david_herdson said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tory source confirms Sir Simon Clarke is calling for a new PM tonight.

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1749896775484232116

Calling for 'a new PM' is all very well but 'generic Tory' isn't an option. Indeed, 'generic Tory' is pretty much the incumbent. If you want a replacement, you really ought to say who that replacement should be.

This is from last month.

— plots to oust Sunak are bubbling away under the surface

— allies of Liz Truss have held talks about coordinating letters

— some of them want Simon Clarke to be the candidate to replace him

— Truss denies plotting. Clarke says he wants govt to succeed

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1733417742001156162

If the answer is Simon Clarke then you're asking the wrong question.
Unless the question is name a tall Tory who nobody approaching normal has ever heard of?

And who divorced his wife for a Westminster colleague

'The 6ft 7in Tory nicknamed Stilts stepped down as minister for regional growth and local government “for personal reasons”.

But the MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland is “head over heels in lust”.

His teary wife Hannah looked devastated outside their Teesside home yesterday.

She and Mr Clarke, 35, have a young son together.'
'https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12648544/married-tory-quit-cheating-wife/

TheScreamingEagles

We cannot have a Smoggie as Prime Minister, it would be proof that the country has gone to the dogs.