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

I seem to remember there was a 'sleaze' scandal attached to Yeo during the Major govt but I can't remember it. Was he a 'family values' hypocrite or 'brown enevlope stuffed with cash' merchant?

Tim Yeo was one of the 'pants down' group. He had had a child with a woman other than his wife.

Good for you. I have only missed one election in my adult life and that was due to an inoppurtune move near election day.

Do you mind? 'pants down' is a term reserved for Lib Dems. I believe the Tory equivalent is a "whoops how did that orange get there and I just needed my toes washing" situation.

Yes, the good old Tory cabinet. Responsible for getting more women into Labour than Tony Blair.

IDS loses 75 votes to 90.

A lot closer than many were predicting!

I take it that's labour with a small l?

I don't think the Tories have a hope unless they stop fighting amongst themselves & form some policies that they all agree on.

The trouble with party politics generally seems to me to be that they differ on principle rather than trying to work together for the good of the country. The opposition should be critical but doesn't necessarily have to disagree on everything.

It strikes me as very sloppy the way they announce the result. The BBC only just caught the result. If these people are supposed to being representing us then surely they should be more organised and open when announcing the result?

Hey everyone, listen, hear that echoing laughter in the background, nope that ain't halloween, its the Lib-Dems celebrating...

Next election - you've now got the choice between a 'President' nobody trusts, a party who can't figure out where the heck their going and the Lib-Dems

Whatever you think about Blair Labour has too much credit in the voters bank to lose the next election. If the Tories turn up with a no-mark team and a party pulling itself all over the place they could end up in a poor third place. They would not be Her Majesty's loyal opposition and what would result would be a party based around 'saying no to Europe'. Those bunch of eccentrics the Lib Dems would be no match for a Brown-run Labour Government and we might face the possibility of a one-party democracy

Regarding the timing of the announcement- probably the Tories thought everyone would be watching 'Emmerdale' and catch the news later, by which time the vultures would have stopped circling. Watching the Tory party of late is better that a soap opera - Sorry the Tory Party IS a Soap Opera!!!!!. The only top tory without the hint of sleaze of any kind is Ken Clarke. New Labour may be bad, but the Official opposition gives the impression of a headless chicken! Even old labour(proper labour) in the long, dark days of thatcherism weren't this bad. Good luck to baldybloke 2 during his retirement on the back benches - at least he won't be held to blame when the Tories lose the next election - badly.

Is this the same Ken Clarke who has a directorship with one of the worlds largest tobacco companys and comes on at the click of the fingers to defend their exploitation of third world workers on less than a dollar a day?

Yes- but at least his corruption is honest - no stuffed brown envelopes or illicitly stuffed members of the opposite sex!!

Yeah, I'll grant you that one

Well, it seems that everyone is lining up behind Micheal Howard.

Which is fine by me. I didn't particularly want the Tories to electable anyway.


Geggs

The PM must be a happy man this morning!

All he has to do is remind everyone of who helped introduced the poll tax, was asked a question 15 times by Jeremy Paxman and still didnt give an answer, and who was one of Mrs Thatch's loyal leutenients etc.

Oh yes indeedy - Micheal Howard!

Well done to all those Tory MP's. ( not a stich up at all )!

I just cannot not see the Tory party become more inclusive and so must now be destined for oblivion.

Why didnt they see the light and get either Ken Clark or Polly Portillo to stand?

Fantastic result for those of us who would happily see the tories dwindle into an unelectable rump.

A big to the bitter and twisted far right for ensuring that, as usual, while announcing 'I'm not standing I'm not standing' to everybody who wouldn't listen, Howard had an unnopposed run at the leadership.

Talk about two faced lying gits.

From the Invisible man to Dracula

And with Mrs Thatcher describing herself as "The Mummy" can anyone come up with ghoulish alter egos for John Major and William Hague so we can have the full set for Halloween

Researcher PSG

* looks at his betting slip for the new leader of the Tories *

Howard or Blair!!!

I predict a lower turnout at the next general election than the abysmal showing in 2001.

I hope that I am proven wrong and that people will exercise their right to vote even if they go in and spoil their ballot paper at least they are showing that they care. Even if none of hte candidates warrent their support. Cab you tell I just had a big debate with my futurue father-in-law about all the parties being the same yesterday after the vote was declared.