NewsSeptember 27, 2005 7:40 pm
Conservative Party chooses democracy
The BBC describes the Conservative Party’s selection process succinctly:
Any Conservative MP with the support of at least two colleagues can stand.
Nominations for the leadership close on a Thursday, with the first round of voting by Tory MPs the next Tuesday.The candidate with the lowest number of votes drops out. There are then further rounds of voting on Thursdays and Tuesdays until two candidates are left.
There is then a postal ballot of Conservative Party members, with the candidate getting the most votes becoming the new party leader.
That should hand the leadership to David Davis then. Who might - just might - put the ‘conservative’ back in to Conservative Party.
We live in hope…
But we die in Caergwle.
Comment by Dumb Brit — September 27, 2005 @ 8:12 pm
I agree. I think David Davis is the best choice and I will vote for him come the final run off, which I expect to be between Davis and Kenneth Clarke.
Comment by The Fog is Clearing — September 27, 2005 @ 10:41 pm
I’ve never really understood. Why is it that the farther you get away from the grass roots of the Conservative party the further to the left the structure seems to lean? Is it simply that as people go into politics they become so enured with the power and priviliges that their newfound life style offers that they come to see it in their best interests to be a part of ever growing Government? You’d better watch out Gary! LOL
Comment by Sussex Downsman — September 28, 2005 @ 10:51 am
This result wasn’t exactly difficult to predict. The decision to change the rules was wrong from the outset - Howard should have either stepped down immediately or continued leading the party. The only thing Howard’s decision has done is prolong the media’s obsession with ridiculing the Conservatives. The way back to government is through effective opposition and good policies, not leadership races.
Comment by lascivious — September 28, 2005 @ 10:58 am
Westminster is too comfortable. Politics is a career with a decent salary and a good pension. It’s easy to get used to the good life. Why rock the boat?
I doubt I could lead that kind of life. I doubt I could keep to myself my distress at what is becoming of this country, my contempt for those who are doing it and my desire to undo the damage and restore us to our right and proper way of life.
I tend to admire politicians of the (real) left almost as much as I deplore their views. Committed, ideological, sincere and, more or less, appearing to not be prepared to sell out in the name of expediency. We in the Conservative Party need people like that.
If there’s a god, the choice presented to the Conservative Party membership will be David Davis and Liam Fox.
Comment by Gary Monro — September 28, 2005 @ 11:11 am
As Tim Bell said yesterday, this is the wrong way to elect a parliamentary leader. Maybe the insiders don’t want the boat rocked - but I suspect its more to do with IDS syndrome.
The only question left is whether Clarke will make the run off - or whether it would be worth him trying. Now the candidates know which gallery they are playing to, at least they can focus on the basics such as looking neat and hostility to Europe.
Comment by DE — September 28, 2005 @ 11:36 am
DE,
We’re not ‘hostile’ to Europe just desiring of our own parliament, elected by us, being our only source of law and so completely answerable to us.
In any other country of the world such a desire is self-evidently and unquestioningly ‘good’. Only in Britain is it something else.
The handing over of British sovereignty would be the final failure of a treasonous governing class and an apathetic populace.
Comment by Gary Monro — September 28, 2005 @ 11:53 am