Is Dave Worth Saving?

[Gromit]

Senor Tories, including George Osborne, have began planning a 'Save Dave' campaign, in the event that he loses the General Election. This is clearly an anti-Boris strategy. It is widely believed that Johnson is standing as an MP again to be in position to take over as leader of the Conservative Party if the Conservatives fail to win a second General Election.

// One Tory MP said Mr Cameron ‘won’t last five minutes’ unless he manages to retain the keys to Downing Street in May. ‘He either wins, or he goes,’ the MP said. ‘He has said himself that if he can’t beat Miliband he doesn’t deserve to be in this game, and he’s right.’
But some senior ministers believe Mr Cameron should stay on if Mr Miliband is only able to cobble together a fragile coalition.
In this scenario, they fear the party could be plunged into a destabilising leadership battle in the run-up to a second election that could take place as early as the autumn. //

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2974899/Top-Tories-plan-Save-Dave-loses-election-Cabinet-colleagues-plan-form-ring-PM-prospect-second-General-Election.html

If Cameron does fail to win the election, why is he worth saving? If a second election takes place, wouldn't a new leader be an electorial asset?

[Svejk]

Is he worth saving - No
Would a new leader be an electoral asset - Yes
^ Just my opinion, and no, I can't provide links.

[Sqad]

If Dave loses the election he will be a two time loser to Milliband and will be OUT before the dust has settled and no rescue scheme will be of any avail.

If Dave wins an outright majority, them Ed will be out and Dave safe for another 4 years.

[whiskeryron]

//Is Dave Worth Saving?// NO

[sandyRoe]

It seems a cut-throat business now with no place for losers except, maybe, a seat in 'the other place'.
Was it in the 70s that both Heath and Wilson lost, held on to the leadership, and went on in time to win?

[Jackdaw33]

Heath lost in 66, won in 70 and lost twice in 74, at which point he got the boot courtesy of Maggie. Wilson won in 64, 66, lost in 70 and won twice in 74.

[Gromit]

The Conservatives narrowly lost in 1964 and Alec Douglas-Home was given the boot from the Conservative leadership and replaced with Heath. Labour had a small majority and Wilson called another election in 1966 when Heath had not been leader for long. Heath lost but another change of leader less than 18 months after his appointment was not sensible.

We could be in similar territory. A narrow loss for the Conservatives, a small or no Labour majority, and another re-run in the not too distant future.

[jno]

sooner Dave than Boris any day. Boris is a shyster. It would be an embarrassment for him to be PM. Dave is the most statesmanlike of all the party leaders and wannabe leaders.

[Jackdaw33]

Would there be a re-run, though? Cameron changed the law so that parliaments last for 5 years unless two thirds of MPs vote for dissolution. recipe for bad government.

[Peter Pedant]

If you lose an election you generally go

Heath managed to stay ( 1973) I think
but other than that it has been a knife in the back issue....

[Peter Pedant]

JD I am pretty sure the law states there will be an election in May 2015 and then the law lapses - it doesnt get repealed but just sort of sits there doing nothing....because it was specific to this parliament

[Jackdaw33]

Heath hung on after losing in Feb 74 as another election was imminent, but when he lost again in Oct 74 it was curtains.

[Gromit]

Jackdaw33

If the minority Government continually loses crucial votes in the Commons and is unable to enact any of their policies, then there is little point carrying on like that. They would want a re-run and so would the Opposition.. Two-Thirds would be achievable.

[Gromit]

// because it was specific to this parliament //

Thanks Peter. I didn't know that.

[Jackdaw33]

I have lived through 13 PMs of which Heath was undoubtedly the worst, and I say that as someone who has usually voted Tory.

[Jackdaw33]

Are you sure of that, PP?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-term_Parliaments_Act_2011

The only other way an election can be held early is by losing a vote of confidence.

[youngmafbog]

If he looses, he will go and as already pointed out same for Millibean.

[Ric.ror]

It will be a cold day in hell before I ever vote for the Tory party but I have to agree Cameron is the most statesman like of the two leaders - no one could possibly take Clegg seriously

[mikey4444]

Boris is waiting in the wings !

[youngmafbog]

And Balls is waiting in the other wing!

[mikey4444]

YMB...........the Tory Party is in enough trouble without having Ed Balls as a Leader !