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DonnyMac
Original Poster
3,044 posts
72 months
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Croydon local rag said: Boris's potential kingmakers are looking for SE ‘safe seats’ to return him to the House of Commons prior to a bid to be PM “A poll of party members conducted by website Conservative Home last month rated Mr Johnson the preferred choice for new leader with 32 per cent of the vote. His nearest competitor was William Hague with 24 per cent. Chancellor George Osborne received just two per cent of the vote.”
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ewenm
24,454 posts
114 months
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If he's got potential to be a great leader, why does he need a safe seat? Surely a great leader could go into a marginal seat and make it safe by winning over the constituents? Would be a good test of his leadership qualities.
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Fittster
14,934 posts
82 months
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Harold Wilson is the only PM I can think of who hasn't had what would be regarded as a safe seat.
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Puggit
29,512 posts
117 months
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Boris has reiterated many times that he isn't interested 
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ewenm
24,454 posts
114 months
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Fittster said: Harold Wilson is the only PM I can think of who hasn't had what would be regarded as a safe seat. Says a lot about our PMs that they have so little confidence in their own leadership abilities. Or maybe they just know that they can only lead people who already want them to do so (the party), not convince the undecided that they are worthy leaders (the constituents).
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thinfourth2
23,584 posts
73 months
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Only if he follows my advice and has Brian Blessed as foriegn secretary  YOU COUNTRY JUST f  k OFF
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mrmr96
11,958 posts
73 months
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Puggit said: Boris has reiterated many times that he isn't interested Sportsmen also tend to deny such rumours (like swapping teams) until they come true.
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Derek Smith
16,049 posts
117 months
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This is not Johnson's first step to challenge for the tory leadership.
He invited Murdoch to the Olympics as his guest, this at a time when he was shunned by the vast majority of people because of the way NI was run.
In a speech Johnson repeated whole phrases out of little Jimmy Murdoch's McTaggart lecture attacking the BBC. This is, historically, what poltiicans have to do before they are considered suitable for the support of the Murdoch empire.
Johnson has repeatedly attacked Cameron's handling of the ecnomic crisis and also particular policies, loudly and very loudly.
This is probably the tenth or 20th step. These are the easy tasks. Next he has to convicen both sides of the tory party that he's capable of taking their specific interests to heart. If history is anything to go by this is his greatest problem. He was an MP for a few short years but got sacked for telling lies. He also pissed off both sides of the party, not a particularly difficult thing to do, but the tories do have long memories and Johnson has done nothing to bring his (many) critics within the party onto his side.
The support from Murdoch might give him a boost from the general public but that's not who he needs to convince. Further, Murdoch might well become persona non grata but not only that, to be seen alongside someone who is regarded by many as dishonest is perhaps not a good career move. The photo of the two together enjoying a joke mihgt well come back to haunt him in in any general election.
The tories are losing the female vote and that is something of concern to them. Whilst Johnson plays the loveable rogue, something that brings out the protectionism in women I'm told, I'm not sure he is the one to galvanise the party.
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wormburner
6,397 posts
122 months
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The party might not like him, but he'd bring more votes than any of them would.
That'll see them bite their lips, until he's in, at least.
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marcosgt
6,200 posts
45 months
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Which country will we declare war on first if Boris becomes PM?
My bet's on Belgium.
M
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Derek Smith
16,049 posts
117 months
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wormburner said: The party might not like him, but he'd bring more votes than any of them would.
That'll see them bite their lips, until he's in, at least. He went up against a chap who was probably the most hated in politics. He had a fanatical following but it was small. Yet the public managed to contain its excitement and he got back in by the skin of his teeth. I can't see him bringing more votes to the tories. I know one who might find it difficult to vote for any party he was in charge of. Cameron is dreadful, indeed he hasn't managed to win an election despite the dreadful performance of the labour party. Johnson is riding on the crest of the Olympics. Within a short time he'll do/say something which was totally inappropiate for the mayor of London. This will not sit well with floating voters.
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Fittster
14,934 posts
82 months
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wormburner said: The party might not like him, but he'd bring more votes than any of them would. Populist don't get the top job, as Portillo and Heseltine could tell Boris. If he wants the big job he needs to get back to parliament, get into the cabinet and do one of the big jobs competently. He's track record doesn't show that he's likely to be able to hold onto a role for any length of time before he gets involved in a scandal. My money on the next leader of the Conservative is Rory Stewart. Expecting a promotion come the next re-shuffle.
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marcosgt
6,200 posts
45 months
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Fittster said: wormburner said: The party might not like him, but he'd bring more votes than any of them would. Populist don't get the top job, as Portillo and Heseltine could tell Boris. Popuarlists? Portillo always came over as a smug arrogant t t (even by Tory standards - odd then that he's such a balanced individual as a TV presenter, clearly playing to the audience), but there was that 'gay' issue which would always make him a non-starter with many traditional Tories, then you've got Heseltine, the man who stabbed Saint Margaret in the back. It's a miracle some nutter never killed him to be honest. Boris hasn't revealed such flaws in his background so far - His bumbling buffoonery makes him seem safe and friendly, be afraid, be VERY afraid... M
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ninja-lewis
1,895 posts
59 months
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ewenm said: If he's got potential to be a great leader, why does he need a safe seat? Surely a great leader could go into a marginal seat and make it safe by winning over the constituents? Would be a good test of his leadership qualities. Probably because the next election isn't going to end well for the Tories. It's easy to go for a marginal seat, as Alex Salmond did in 2007, when your party is on the up (and you're on the regional list so will get in regardless).
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speedy_thrills
5,660 posts
112 months
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People like Boris but I think if you polled voters on Boris as an option for PM he'd not be as popular as the alternatives.
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Fittster
14,934 posts
82 months
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marcosgt said: Boris hasn't revealed such flaws in his background so far - His bumbling buffoonery makes him seem safe and friendly, be afraid, be VERY afraid...
M Boris has shown to be unfaithful, has lied to his boss when found out and hasn't been able to hold down a role at cabinet level. That's overlooking the high number of controversies he's been involved with. Do you think he can go from mayor, to MP to PM, without holding down a cabinet job?
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Apache
38,246 posts
153 months
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Fittster said: marcosgt said: Boris hasn't revealed such flaws in his background so far - His bumbling buffoonery makes him seem safe and friendly, be afraid, be VERY afraid...
M Boris has shown to be unfaithful, has lied to his boss when found out and hasn't been able to hold down a role at cabinet level. That's overlooking the high number of controversies he's been involved with. bugger! he's a perfect fit isn't he
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chimster
1,554 posts
78 months
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Fittster said: Boris has shown to be unfaithful, has lied to his boss when found out and hasn't been able to hold down a role at cabinet level.
That's overlooking the high number of controversies he's been involved with. Sounds like a politician to me 
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Apache
38,246 posts
153 months
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speedy_thrills said: People like Boris but I think if you polled voters on Boris as an option for PM he'd not be as popular as the alternatives. and they'd be?
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Fittster
14,934 posts
82 months
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Apache said: speedy_thrills said: People like Boris but I think if you polled voters on Boris as an option for PM he'd not be as popular as the alternatives. and they'd be? Ed Miliband http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/According to the public he's the most likely to be PM.
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