h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If the polls are correct then Labour will win a third General Election
If so what will happen to Michael Howard?
Should He remain leader or be dropped ?
If he is who should replace him?

Portillo. (thats probably spelt rong). He should have been leader all along before the great wasteland of the torries since John Major went to play cricket. Strangely enough, Portillo would make me, a devouted non-voting-for-the-tories person, consider them an option, and I know others that feel simularly.

I prefer Portillo in his non politican mode. Somehow being in charge of that party would cheapen someone I've rather grown to like.

Yeah I agree with that sentiment. As a front bench Tory I hated him with a passion. for my one of the greatest ever TV moments was Plottillo loosing his seat to Stephen Twigg?

However after he got back in he did genuinly seemed to have changed. From being the standard bearer of Thatcherism he had become a moderniser and centrist, resisting Hagues swing to the right. I think he was starting to become what had previously been called "One Nation Tory".

However since he became a political commentator I have had loads of time for him. I still disagree frequently but all to often he is the voice of reason to Dianne Abbotts slightly manic-ness. He seems allright really. I have to say that I probably would *think* about voting for him but probably would not be able to bring myself to do it.

Also (back on topic) my analysis of MH becoming leader is that they did not really expect to win this election. His task is to gain some respectability, get closer to Labour.

The idea (and BTW this is my opinion not fact) IMO is that is they can be close to Labour and portray themselves as a government in waiting when things go "tits up" for Labour in the third term they will be ready to pounce.

Think about it in the next parliament painfull decisions about pensions have to be taken. One way or another the govt will be forced to take not insignificant ammount of moneys out of all our pockets or raise the retirement age or both. That is not going to be popular at all.

They are oging to have to decide on our Nuclear deterrant and the building on new Nuclear power plants. I am willing to bet that whoever wins they will both decide in the affermative. This will be expensive and again not popular.

Lastly we have had a stable economy for ages, logic dictates that the longer it goes on the closer we are to the next slump. That means there has to be the possibility of rising tax, interest, unemployment and falling house prices in the next parliament.

I think it is emminently possible that for the strategists and Conservative central office winning and extra 50-75 seats and being the opposition to a weak and Brown/Blair divded labour party on a slimmer majority would not be too bad a thing at all really.

ah! - a fellow This Weeker!

I agree Dianne has a habit of ranting and loosing the argument with an excessive hyperbole. Portillo is far more staid and you get the feeling his opinions are formed based on, dare I say it, actually thinking about the issue rather than reactionary appall.

I think your right, his campaign for leadership post-Hague was more centerist as I think he was sensibly trying to effect the same kind of transition of party adherents, as Blair achieved with 'new' (read: Tory) Labour. That message failed precisely because the Tory Party was not and probably is not ready to shift ground to accomodate a new political climate. They endorsed first IDS and now Howard who's old-school legacy appeals, but under whose direction they will in all likelyhood suffer another election defeat.

Portillo continues to plough a different path, his differing comments about party policy particularly election strategy occasionally bring him flak seeing as he is retiring and seen to be sniping from afar. Despite this, his apparent centerist turn is quite appealing. I think he is definately the most logical choice for a Tory party leader therefore and for that very reason I'd rather not sacrifice him to that ailing creature.

Yes "This Week", the single most enjoyable Politics show since "The Friday Nigh Armistice" allthough in a marginally less silly way!

We're on a way to an e-lection. With Mark Mardell and Portil-oh-oh.

Silly? This Week? Heaven Forfend!

Afternoon all,

Based on the Billy Connolly test it should be Ken Clarke........ I'd have a pint in the local with him, suede shoes and all, and a tough cookie as well.

Novo

Yeah I think they made a huge faux pax in choosing IDS instead of Clarke.

in fact the Tory leadership seem to think it such a bad one that they are taking the right to choose away from the members.

Actually Ken clark wouldn't be too bad a bet not that I'd put a wager on him getting the job, but I think He'd be good at it; hence will not get the postion

To old and to into europe for the Tories to put him in charge now.

Like I said provided MH wins at least 30 extra seats they will keep him for at least a couple of years if not the next election. Not sure who the natural replacement is now for them though.

Liam Fox and Oliver Letwin seem to be the most high profile. David Davies is right wing and unelectable. So great Tory leader credentials there then.

Liam Fox. He appears to 'come across' best and be the least smary of them all.

<>
Given Ken Clarks, very strong support for the EU, and what I believe is the Publics
Wide spread scepticism for it I can not see him every leading The Tories to victory

Also Clark is still seen as old guard ~ no if/when Howard goes i think it'll be someone new ~ maybe Duncan

Well, there's always Boris....


Geggs

Now that would be fun.
Imagine prime ministers questions

Apparantly the Tory party mambers would like William "bloody" Hague back.

So they're officially suicidal then

Just a little reminder to everyone that, as we approach the end of these Election Forum discussions, could we all remember one of the rules as stated above:

Please don't discuss individual candidates. What we'd like to hear from you is how you are personally affected by the issues themselves. This is, after all, the Guide to Life, the Universe and Everything and we feel there's greater value in sticking to the issues than focusing on any individual.


Many thanks!

The h2g2 Editors