IDS in or out

[Will_M]

Whats are the bets from the forum?

Will Iain Duncan Smith be in or out as 'leader' of the Con party.... Its gotta be worth a bet or two down the bookies!

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[Sybarite]

Out and the sooner the better.

Irrespective of his personal competencies, the guy must realize that he does not command the respect necessary to unify his party let alone be electable as PM.

My opinion on him has not changed - and I would include Hague in the job lot. Anybody who can say that he would not accept the euro under any circumstances is only pandering to what he perceives as the public prejudice. Nearly every time they come out with a policy statement you can hear the thought processes : "What do you think will appeal to the public at large?" - irrespective of whether the idea is a good one or not.

As someone who has traditionally tended towards the conservatives there is no way I would vote (if I had the vote) for them now.

John

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[Talbot]

I am not sure if he is the best leader available for them at the moment, what I am sure about is that the way this has been done has been very detrimental to the chances of the party making any sort of recovery. Like them or hate them, our form of democracy depends on having a good opposition. Furthermore there does seem to have been a co-ordinated feeding frenzy by the media which has distracted the public's attention away from the awful mess the government is in. Why has there not been as much media attention on this??

Never forget that the only definition of an honest politician is one who stays bought!!!

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[Evadne]

Who cares?

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[IanPoole2]

Speaking as a representative of the "anyone but the Tories" party, IDS is great - incompetent, uncaring, unelectable.

Ken Clarke - "big hitter", would rip the Tories apart on Europe - in, out, shake it all about does n't seem to be much of a policy.

So IDS to lose the next election - KC the one after.

Maybe Liberals, LibDems, SDP whatever they're called this week could get a look in!



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[Magic_Sailor]

Me too

Back in 1993 I prayed that the Tories would sink without trace.

Could my wish be coming true?

Magic

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://hometown.aol.co.uk/geoffwestgarth/myhomepage/travelwriting.html>Click for website!</A>

 

[penfold]

I have to say I agree with Talbot here; a competent opposition is essential for the smooth running and the safeguarding of our particular flavour of democracy, and the Tories have been abdicating their responsibilities as HM opposition since '97.
Weary Willy was a good debater and orator, but a lousy leader; IDS can't even deliver a speech with conviction (anyone see his party conference speech on the news? In a word; mediocre).

The tory faithful seen to miss the primary purpose of a political party, which is to get elected to power. Using this rule of thumb, irrespective of whether you would vote for them, who in the party could you see as a plausible/competent PM? For my money it would be Portillo, Clarke or May, with Liam Fox as scratch runner. They certainly won't get the swing voters with the likes of Howard or Redwood in charge.

cheers,
david

<hr width=100% size=1>This candidate works well when cornered and watched like a rat in a trap.

 

[LadyInBed]

IDS = IDGAS

I dont give a 4x

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[summerwind]

Win or lose today, he has lost. In fact, I don't think he ever won. He got the job as leader because the party faithful can't forget Thatcher. He seemed her greatest banner carrier at the time the tories last ditched a leader, regardless of electability.

What tories still don't seem to have grasped is that they can bang on as much as they like about Thatcher's right wing, anti-Europe policies. It will make no difference. The electorate got fed up with them and with her. So much so that even though Blair became the person the press loved to hate, the tories couldn't put a scratch on him. He will win the next election no problem.

My prediction is that IDS gets the elbow and someone with an equal amount of charisma, eg Howard, gets the job. Next election tories do even worse than before and Lib Dems become the "Official Opposition."

Blair is replaced as Labour leader with another negative charisma character - Brown. Lib Dems win following election.

Where's the exit please?

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[snowleopard]

whatever you think of the tories, we need them and we need them to have a credible leader. if there isn't an electable opposition the present lot have nothing to prevent them pocketing our savings, pensions, boats, houses or whatever else takes their fancy.

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[penfold]

Would the last person leaving the country please ensure the lights are out and the doors locked.

Charlie Kennedy's a nice bloke but I think He should probably dye his hair grey; it would make him look a bit more like a PM rather than a parish councillor. Ming Campbell has good management hair, give him the job.

cheers,
david

<hr width=100% size=1>This candidate works well when cornered and watched like a rat in a trap.