How Long Before May Goes?

[Gromit]

Looking at the headlines on todays newspapers, it would be easy to surmise that the Prime Minister doesn’t have much of a future

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-42615834

How did the Conservatives get this bad ?

[Kidas]

And as for UK being a laughing stock in Europe - not really - it's worse than that. I'm off to a meeting in Düsseldorf on Friday, but the most common opinion is of disbelief at the state we have got ourselves into. They always looked to UK to be the sensible, pragmatic ones, offering clear thinking and sensible compromises.

Now they look at us commiting an act of national self-harm (in their view), and shake their heads in sorrow and disappointment.

The view I hear from my friends in Europe is more deep sadness and regret, than Schadenfreude or revenge.

[gulliver1]

I see the Cons had to wheel out IDS as their spokesman
on Sky news this morning , that's how desperate they are.

[Jackdaw33]

As a died-in-the-wool Tory I have to admit that May has been an unmitigated disaster. She is just as bad as, or even worse than, the execrable Ted Heath. It is only the current political situation which allows her to remain in situ but her days are numbered.

[emmie]

as a fellow Tory i can't say that she is an unmitigated disaster, people are expecting her to be another MT, which clearly she is not. However i do wonder at this back biting that goes on in politics, it doesn't help matters at all. I would like to see her stay at least until Brexit, then we shall see if there is any likely candidate to take over the reins.

[jno]

it's not really true that Osborne has made the Standard into an anti-May newspaper. It still gives Labour frequent kickings too. It's the first time in all my years in London that it's been politically impartial, after years as the Daily Boris.

[anneasquith]

Jack " her days are numbered " I'd bet she's counting the days as much as anyone !

[Kidas]

OK jno - you're probably right - I just went on a rant - I have some issues at work and needed to vent

Thanks for the clarification...

[Khandro]

jno; These don't look exactly 'complimentary';
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/26/george-osbornes-evening-standard-front-pages-mock-theresa-may/

[ichkeria]

"And as for UK being a laughing stock in Europe - not really - it's worse than that. I'm off to a meeting in Düsseldorf on Friday, but the most common opinion is of disbelief at the state we have got ourselves into. They always looked to UK to be the sensible, pragmatic ones, offering clear thinking and sensible compromises. "

I was watching France 24's coverage of the (re-)shuffle last night and they were trying hard not to smirk. It is embarrassing.

[emmie]

are other countries not having problems, what has been happening in Germany recently with Angela Merkel not forming a government.

[emmie]

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/08/germanys-merkel-enters-high-stakes-talks-in-last-chance-to-form-a-government.html

[Khandro]

Kidas; if the British government (and opposition) are acting out a comedy, the German politicians are acting out a farce.
" but the most common opinion is of disbelief at the state we have got ourselves into"
Common opinion among whom? All the Germans I meet are in despair at [i their [i] politicians.

[emmie]

Khandro
indeed they are, we are not alone, plenty of countries are having difficulties.

[youngmafbog]

//I see the Cons had to wheel out IDS as their spokesman
on Sky news this morning , that's how desperate they are. //

Party Chairman was on sky when I was watching it.

And by the way I am not a "dedicated" Tory. I call a spade a spade perhaps a pity some labour supporters are not more critical then perhaps they may become a political threat.

[Kidas]

Hi Khandro
.
Yes, for sure Brexit is not high on the agenda of most Europeans - they all have their own concerns, especially the Germans now. But since I am a Brit, they (French, Italians, Dutch, Swedes, and yes, Germans) do tend to ask me what on earth is going on over here.

Though to be fair most of the people I meet are international business people ... and taxi drivers. There's definitely a difference in views between those two groups.

[youngmafbog]

It's odd because when I worked in europe I was always being asked why we were in the EU. Quote "The British are not European, dont think like us, dont act like us".

[Zacs-Master]

Late into this debate but just to give a succinct answer to the OP 'How did the Conservatives get this bad'

Simple answer. They have no credible opposition. I have said this several times on here.

[Gromit]

Khandro,
The British and German voters are at fault for being fairly evenly split. In the UK that lead to May not getting a majority and needing the toxic DUP to survive. In Germany the voters were so fragmented that a grand coalition wasn’t even easy (they are still struggling to form it). All because the voters weren’t decisive enough (you can hardly blame us looking at the poor choices available).

[Gromit]

Zacs,
Ymb also tried to blame a weak opposition, but it doesn’t really work like that.
Hague, IDS and Howerd were weak opposition, that just resulted in strong Labour Governments. Likewise Foot and Kinnock in opposition did not fesult in weak Thatcher Governments.
The problem is that the voters don’t really like any of the choices on offer, so no party got a majority.

[Jackdaw33]

No doubt historians in the future will debate how it went so drastically wrong. When May called the election polls were predicting a Tory majority of 170+. Who wouldn't be tempted? But, as they say, there's many a slip... May must have got the shock of her life when she saw the results roll in.