Conservative Party (UK) leadership election, 2022, Take Two

[Torrain]

Defence Minister James Heappy (a close Wallace ally) has endorsed Sunak. He went for Truss in the previous contest.

Heappy said he’d resign alongside Wallace if we didn’t meet the ‘3% of GDP on defence’ target, which Sunak has refused to commit to.
https://mobile.twitter.com/JSHeappey/status/1584246156162666496

[Helsinkian]

Why would the Johnson camp lie about having the 100 signatures? Would that not just hurt them, as MPs on the fence about backing Johnson might not bother with it if they think that he already has the required number?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Why would the Johnson camp lie about having the 100 signatures? Would that not just hurt them, as MPs on the fence about backing Johnson might not bother with it if they think that he already has the required number.

Perhaps they feel it would generate a bandwagon effect as people would want to throw their lot in with Boris for sake of their careers or something.
That's the best I can think of.

[Torrain]

Why would the Johnson camp lie about having the 100 signatures? Would that not just hurt them, as MPs on the fence about backing Johnson might not bother with it if they think that he already has the required number?

Tory MPs love to back winners - in part because there are around 90 ministerial roles to fill in the government, and loyalty is often rewarded. Johnson appears to be trying to fake momentum, so people take a bet on him - in return for a job or some other prestige.

He might well make it - but his refusal to force his backers to go public as a show of strength, or even formally declare his candidacy, has led to a strong degree of skepticism.

[TheTide]

Has anyone else observed that this has the feeling of the pre-1965 'soundings'? The secret meetings and the general sense that no one knows what is going on.

[Aurelius]

No slick launch video this time, a lot more restrained:

On that topic, Morduant just repeating her campaign video from the summer maybe adds to the sense that her heart isn't really in it this time (and perhaps was more fishing for a "big" job all along)

Glad to hear America isn't the only country where people run for PresidentPM to sell books or get a plum cabinet job.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Boris out

https://twitter.com/ChrisMasonBBC/status/1584273314435911681?s=20&t=XhHlPTNi...

[Torrain]

[Lechasseur]

Is there any reason he would have pulled out other than not actually having had a sufficient number of endorsements ? And if he didn't have them, why would he be claiming now that he did?

[Torrain]

Is there any reason he would have pulled out other than not actually having had a sufficient number of endorsements ? And if he didn't have them, why would he be claiming now that he did?

I think the only reasonable explanation is that he didn’t have the numbers, and is lying to save face, in an attempt to prop up a future bid. Requires him to survive through this Parliament and the next election though…

[TheTide]

102 nominations - absolute BS.

[Oryxslayer]

Is there any reason he would have pulled out other than not actually having had a sufficient number of endorsements ? And if he didn't have them, why would he be claiming now that he did?

I think the only reasonable explanation is that he didn’t have the numbers, and is lying to save face, in an attempt to prop up a future bid. Requires him to survive through this Parliament and the next election though…

Also he probably actually called back to one of his opponents (or both)and took whatever deal they offered.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Hahahahahahahahaha

No dignity in backing down, as in anything else he ever did.

[Conservatopia]

Just think - there will now be three former PMs on Parliament's benches.

[Cassius]

Lmao.

[TheTide]

Has the Penny dropped yet? 

[Middle-aged Europe]

"I'm sure I would have won, but I have decided to drop out anyway. Bye."


Reminds me of the ending of Machete where Steven Seagal as the villain decides to commit seppuku, because the only one capable of defeating Steven Seagal is Steven Seagal.

[Lumine]

I rather hope Sunak will mimic Boris in '19 with a near-total Cabinet purge the moment he wins. If not because of collective incompetence, at least for karmic justice after - for the most part - stooping as low as possible to retain higher office.

[Torrain]

Lmao, Zahawi wrote a Johnson endorsement editorial for tomorrow’s Telegraph.

[Cassius]

Lmao, Zahawi wrote a Johnson endorsement editorial for tomorrow’s Telegraph.

A broken clock who isn’t even right twice a day.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Lmao, Zahawi wrote a Johnson endorsement editorial for tomorrow’s Telegraph.

https://twitter.com/nadinebh_/status/1584276764679077888

[MABA 2020]

102? Okay sure.

So Sunak is pretty much 100% gonna be PM tomorrow?

[Cassius]

Please God Johnson backers don’t put Mordaunt over the 100 noms line.

[Torrain]

Please God Johnson backers don’t put Mordaunt over the 100 noms line.

3 mins before Boris Johnson withdrew, Penny Mordaunt messaged supporters to say “Momentum is coming our way”.

[Torrain]

It gets better -
https://mobile.twitter.com/nadhimzahawi/status/1584280847141638144