2 ms·

Sunak is the likely winner isn't he; it's in the ordinary progression of things. But there are competent, non-corrupt people in the party who are in the running

Sunak is the likely winner isn't he; it's in the ordinary progression of things. But there are competent, non-corrupt people in the party who are in the running, like Tom Tugendhat, who is obviously the stalking horse but has more of a chance if the contest becomes truly divisive. I'd sleep much better if either of them were in the job, but I am more comfortable with the idea of a Tugendhat Cabinet. It's important to internalise that Boris is not a clown. That is the wrong way to look at him, not least because clowning requires empathy.

denton-scratch 5y ago
> but I am more comfortable with the idea of a Tugendhat Cabinet. Good luck with that! I don't think he has a snowflake's (and I don't think he'd run). Sunak will bring back austerity and handouts for bankers (Sunak is a banker). > It's important to internalise that Boris is not a clown. I agree that he's not so green as he's cabbage-looking. He's not stupid. But he does treat everything as a joke, including his own hair. At any rate, I don't think it's important to internalise anything about Boris; I'm pretty sure he's finished.
- unfocussed_mike 5y ago
  Tugendhat has already announced that he will run in that contest. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tom-tugendhat-boris-johnson-partygate-b2003340.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tom-tugendhat... As to a snowflake's, as of a week ago when the prospect of a contest really emerged, the betting markets thought his chance was 16/1 and now his odds are between 6/1 and 9/1 depending on where you look. Not far off Truss's odds. Not a snowflake's -- he's in fourth place and it's more like we need to see whether Jeremy Hunt will run or endorse. Tugendhat has pull in the national party (even if half of the parliamentary party hate him for being a "swot" -- i.e. actual public service instead of a PPE degree and some time at a hedge fund). I think if Hunt decides not to run, there is a good chance he gets to take it to the country. I would observe that Jeremy Corbyn started out with longer odds in the 2015 Labour leadership campaign. Boris's hair is not a joke. Nothing about his appearance is a joke. It is carefully crafted to maximise his innate characteristics and play up to a distracting stereotype. He had his flat done up for £100,000 by an exclusive designer, his wife is a smart dresser, and he is surrounded by PR people. Everything about the way Boris looks and acts is planned. Understand that he's a sociopath. And sociopaths do what they do. This will be a rough contest.
- unfocussed_mike 5y ago
  P.S. I enjoyed this disagreement; it has helped me assemble my thoughts :-)

denton-scratch 5y ago

> but I am more comfortable with the idea of a Tugendhat Cabinet. Good luck with that! I don't think he has a snowflake's (and I don't think he'd run). Sunak will bring back austerity and handouts for bankers (Sunak is a banker). > It's important to internalise that Boris is not a clown. I agree that he's not so green as he's cabbage-looking. He's not stupid. But he does treat everything as a joke, including his own hair. At any rate, I don't think it's important to internalise anything about Boris; I'm pretty sure he's finished.

unfocussed_mike 5y ago
Tugendhat has already announced that he will run in that contest. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tom-tugendhat-boris-johnson-partygate-b2003340.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tom-tugendhat... As to a snowflake's, as of a week ago when the prospect of a contest really emerged, the betting markets thought his chance was 16/1 and now his odds are between 6/1 and 9/1 depending on where you look. Not far off Truss's odds. Not a snowflake's -- he's in fourth place and it's more like we need to see whether Jeremy Hunt will run or endorse. Tugendhat has pull in the national party (even if half of the parliamentary party hate him for being a "swot" -- i.e. actual public service instead of a PPE degree and some time at a hedge fund). I think if Hunt decides not to run, there is a good chance he gets to take it to the country. I would observe that Jeremy Corbyn started out with longer odds in the 2015 Labour leadership campaign. Boris's hair is not a joke. Nothing about his appearance is a joke. It is carefully crafted to maximise his innate characteristics and play up to a distracting stereotype. He had his flat done up for £100,000 by an exclusive designer, his wife is a smart dresser, and he is surrounded by PR people. Everything about the way Boris looks and acts is planned. Understand that he's a sociopath. And sociopaths do what they do. This will be a rough contest.
unfocussed_mike 5y ago
P.S. I enjoyed this disagreement; it has helped me assemble my thoughts :-)