Both Britain’s main political parties seem headed for leadership battles

[webfact]

Both Britain’s main political parties seem headed for leadership battles



LONDON: -- The battle to elect a replacement for David Cameron as leader of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party and hence as prime minister is underway with nominations to be submitted by noon today.

So far few MPs have officially entered the race although Home Secretary Therese May appears to have unofficially launched her campaign via The Times newspaper. Although she favoured remaining in the EU, opinion polls put her ahead of the victorious “Leave” camp leader Boris Johnson. Popular among many voters on both sides of the political divide he’s certain to confirm his challenge shortly.

Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb has already announced his candidacy and others may follow including former defence Secretary Liam Fox.

Meanwhile David Cameron has piled on the pressure to get opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to quit, during a questions and answer session in the House of Commons.

“It might be in my party’s interest for him to sit there, it’s not in the national interest and I would say ‘For heaven’s sake, man, go’.”

Corbyn, who is a veteran hard-left Labour MP, is unpopular with many parliamentary colleagues who passed a motion of no confidence in him this week. Many are angry at their leader for what they see as his lacklustre performance in the “Remain” campaign.

But Corbyn commands strong support among party activists and so far he is refusing to step down.

But that doesn’t seem to be stopping Labour MP Angela Eagle who says she intends to announce a leadership challenge against Corbyn today.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-06-30

[Baerboxer]

What a bunch of arrogant self interested liars. Both parties. And the same goes for most in Westminster and the glorified national councils in Scotland Wales and NI.

Never thought I'd say this but the only decent politician who genuinely seems to represent the electorate rather than self gain is Martin McGuiness. Sure he follows an agenda, but he's open and honest about it, big enough to admit past actions, and doesn't resort to the constant lies, insults and attention seeking pantomimes the others do. Contrast Boris, Gove, Farage, Corbyn, Sturgeon with the calm professional approach of McGuiness. How sadly ironic.

[vogie]

What a bunch of arrogant self interested liars. Both parties. And the same goes for most in Westminster and the glorified national councils in Scotland Wales and NI.

Never thought I'd say this but the only decent politician who genuinely seems to represent the electorate rather than self gain is Martin McGuiness. Sure he follows an agenda, but he's open and honest about it, big enough to admit past actions, and doesn't resort to the constant lies, insults and attention seeking pantomimes the others do. Contrast Boris, Gove, Farage, Corbyn, Sturgeon with the calm professional approach of McGuiness. How sadly ironic.

I suppose if you like murderers, Martin McGuiness is a decent man???

[elgordo38]

What a bunch of arrogant self interested liars. Both parties. And the same goes for most in Westminster and the glorified national councils in Scotland Wales and NI.

Never thought I'd say this but the only decent politician who genuinely seems to represent the electorate rather than self gain is Martin McGuiness. Sure he follows an agenda, but he's open and honest about it, big enough to admit past actions, and doesn't resort to the constant lies, insults and attention seeking pantomimes the others do. Contrast Boris, Gove, Farage, Corbyn, Sturgeon with the calm professional approach of McGuiness. How sadly ironic.

What a bunch of arrogant self interested liars. I like this but they have no monopoly on this its a template for all politicians world wide scumbags the lot of them. I rather like Boris but then I am not British. Like the US economy/dollar he is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket. The new yardstick is not how good things are but which is less bad.

[Emster23]

"After you"

"No, after you"

"I really must insist, after you" etc

Attraction to power of being PM must be weighed against prospect of being provisional captain of Titanic....

[dunroaming]

Yes our politicians are certainly several steps down from second hand car salesmen.

So Gove stabs Boris in the back and he stands down. Must be a great relief for Johnson to have a get out from the poisoned chalice. So it will be Gove versus May for the leadership. Maybe Johnson knew that he was going to lose, many had turned against him, so decided with Gove that he had a better chance. Or it could be that Johnson wouldn't commit to a position for Gove in his cabinet. Whatever the reason it will involve dark deeds behind closed doors.

My prediction (and I am often completely wrong) is that if May wins and there is a general election then the Conservatives will win. If Gove wins and the Labour party has Eagle then she has a small chance of getting it in coalition.

Interesting times and plenty of blood to be spilt yet.

[Kiwiken]

I vote for Yingluck for British PM. Nicer smile than all the others

[dunroaming]

I would vote for Kim Kardashian. Parliament is full of ars*s and you can't get much bigger than hers!

[Laughing Gravy]

Yes the UK politicians have certainly dragged the whole democracy into uncertainty. Labour and Conservatives in fighting over a decision already made. Now Johnson is out of the picture. How on earth can people vote for Theresa May and the other clown as they were remain. No election until 2020!

Well here is my take. The reason why, because if there was an election UKIP would not get 4 million votes but double or even triple. The people have had enough of the conservatives and Labour. The only people they represent is themselves. The arrogance of the EU and now the political parties are creating an even greater division from the working person. Out of all the those going for the leadership in both parties there is one person who stands out and that's Andrea Leadson, who spoke during the referendum with passion, honesty and integrity and looked a much better leader, than all of them.

The infighting between the two political parties just highlights for me that, it just means that Nigel Farage and UKIP are gaining even more popularity and if things keep going the way they are. One day they will be the second or even first major political power in the UK.

[vogie]

Yes the UK politicians have certainly dragged the whole democracy into uncertainty. Labour and Conservatives in fighting over a decision already made. Now Johnson is out of the picture. How on earth can people vote for Theresa May and the other clown as they were remain. No election until 2020!

Well here is my take. The reason why, because if there was an election UKIP would not get 4 million votes but double or even triple. The people have had enough of the conservatives and Labour. The only people they represent is themselves. The arrogance of the EU and now the political parties are creating an even greater division from the working person. Out of all the those going for the leadership in both parties there is one person who stands out and that's Andrea Leadson, who spoke during the referendum with passion, honesty and integrity and looked a much better leader, than all of them.

The infighting between the two political parties just highlights for me that, it just means that Nigel Farage and UKIP are gaining even more popularity and if things keep going the way they are. One day they will be the second or even first major political power in the UK.

I totally agree what you say but, yes ukip accrued nearly 4 million votes and got one seat, whilst the snp only managed 1.5 million votes (and only 46% of the Scots voted for snp) but got 56 seats, Lib dems got 2.5 million votes and got 8 seats. I just don't understand the logic in our voting system.

[dunroaming]

Laughing Gravy (love the handle)

Wishful thinking about Farage I am afraid. You really think that after his outburst at the EU conference that he is the man to negotiate the best deal for us? He would be laughed out of the arena! Apart from anything what would UKIP bring to the table. Farage couldn't even get elected as an MP and they have one MP who thinks that Nigel should step aside.

So what would Farage tell the electorate? "I will take us out of the EU?" Well Boris has done that already. I think people now see that Farage is a no-hoper. Of course I could be completely wrong, I often am!

[Gweiloman]

Laughing Gravy (love the handle)

Wishful thinking about Farage I am afraid. You really think that after his outburst at the EU conference that he is the man to negotiate the best deal for us? He would be laughed out of the arena! Apart from anything what would UKIP bring to the table. Farage couldn't even get elected as an MP and they have one MP who thinks that Nigel should step aside.

So what would Farage tell the electorate? "I will take us out of the EU?" Well Boris has done that already. I think people now see that Farage is a no-hoper. Of course I could be completely wrong, I often am!

Farage should definitely be in the team that negotiates with the EU. He is unafraid to stand up to them and he has had 17 years of experience in dealing with them. He should play the role of the bad cop

[Basil B]

Yes the UK politicians have certainly dragged the whole democracy into uncertainty. Labour and Conservatives in fighting over a decision already made. Now Johnson is out of the picture. How on earth can people vote for Theresa May and the other clown as they were remain. No election until 2020!

Well here is my take. The reason why, because if there was an election UKIP would not get 4 million votes but double or even triple. The people have had enough of the conservatives and Labour. The only people they represent is themselves. The arrogance of the EU and now the political parties are creating an even greater division from the working person. Out of all the those going for the leadership in both parties there is one person who stands out and that's Andrea Leadson, who spoke during the referendum with passion, honesty and integrity and looked a much better leader, than all of them.

The infighting between the two political parties just highlights for me that, it just means that Nigel Farage and UKIP are gaining even more popularity and if things keep going the way they are. One day they will be the second or even first major political power in the UK.

I totally agree what you say but, yes ukip accrued nearly 4 million votes and got one seat, whilst the snp only managed 1.5 million votes (and only 46% of the Scots voted for snp) but got 56 seats, Lib dems got 2.5 million votes and got 8 seats. I just don't understand the logic in our voting system.

We had a referendum for PR 4-5 years ago...

both major parties said it was to complicated ....they favour a two party system, and therefore the motion for PR was defeated.

[Basil B]

Boris stabbed in the back by Micheal Gove...

And the front runner is Theresa, Has she not been the Secretary of State for the last 6 years, responsible for the Police, Immigration, Passport Office???

Lot of junior ministerial heads have rolled, but the PM nether thought the Secretary of State may have been more than just a little incompetent? so if she becomes PM expect a lot of things to go wrong ...but it will not be her fault.

[dunroaming]

Can we just get one thing straight. Farage is not an MP, he was beaten when he tried. He is not in the government, in fact he has nothing to do with the government. Did people not notice that he was running his own campaign and not part of the governments? Did no-one notice that when he ranted at the EU conference that everyone was laughing and jeering at him?

Nigel Farage is a joke and a bad joke at that!

[Gweiloman]

Can we just get one thing straight. Farage is not an MP, he was beaten when he tried. He is not in the government, in fact he has nothing to do with the government. Did people not notice that he was running his own campaign and not part of the governments? Did no-one notice that when he ranted at the EU conference that everyone was laughing and jeering at him?

Nigel Farage is a joke and a bad joke at that!

No, he's not an MP, he's an MEP (Member of the European Parliament).

Yes, when he made his speech at the EU conference, a lot (not everyone) of the other MEP's laughed and jeered at him. This is only natural as his views are not the same as theirs and their jobs would have been on the line as well. Which is why, all the more, I have respect for him for being able and willing and courageous enough to stand up to them. It takes someone with a real passion and belief in what they are doing to be able to withstand the heckling of their peers for 17 years.

He is funny but he is definitely not a joke.