The perils of Tory leadership contests | Red Box

As the Tories limber up for a potential leadership contest, the ghosts of elections past loom large in their collective memory. Can Boris Johnson survive? Are Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss making their ambitions a bit too obvious? And what pitfalls should any leader in waiting avoid? Michael Portillo voted in four Tory leadership elections as an MP and a cabinet minister. Then stood, and lost, in one. Now a safe distance from his life in politics, Times Red Box editor Patrick Maguire visited him a stone's throw from Parliament to hear his thoughts on contests past, present and future.

[samfarrow]

Replacing Bojo or not I still wouldn’t trust any of them

[antm]

Doesn’t matter who’s in power. It’s one big game they all play and the pawns in that game are the people of Britain

[isabellerose]

About boris when he said that he didn’t know he was ‘breaking the rules’. OF COURSE HE KNEW HE WAS BREAKING THEM . He announced of what was against the rules and what wasn’t. How ridiculous. He can’t even listen to his own rules

[pregorygeck]

No potential leader is available to choose from in this era of politicians!

[mandismith]

its amusing when people act like scandal is a new thing in government, just shows the public are quick to forget

[Galerak]

"Replacing Boris would be a terrific gamble”? Isn't keeping Captain Bumblefuck as leader an even bigger gamble?

[huyiii]

Replacing Boris is not the answer as they all are cut from the same cloth..what needs to be done is weed out all the Tories and labour and time to give politics a clean up. And put the people in power for the people

[meagain]

To quote a comment from someone else, ' the only person who entered parliament with good intentions was Guy Fawkes'.

[lindahanley]

No good replacing anyone, the whole not need to go !

[katherinehennessy]

What a surprise. Politicians are again above accountability and the sheeple will stand by and take it.

Change my mind….

[glennsheppard]

He should know that he was elected, not because he is a great politician but because wasn’t Corbin

[Sam-vpyi]

I remember being sat watching Boris Johnson win the GE with my head in my hands. I genuinely don’t understand what people were expecting to happen 🤷🏾‍♂️ The tories lied through the entire campaign and won because of it. Now everyone’s like “woah! These people aren’t very nice”…

[bobbybates]

If and when boris goes he could be replaced by a much worse pm

[flowerpower]

Call for a total reform, they are all toxic

[wendyfoster]

boris is an actor just like the rest of them - they are following a script but too many think its all world is a stage!!

[halethewhale]

Eww Theresa mays dance sends shivers down my spine every time 😬

[MaisieSqueak]

And THAT is what is wrong - It's a choice between two... The system needs changing not just the PM... THIS IS NOT DEMOCRACY

[amz]

They sat and partyed with Boris and now they want the primemister

[sonia]

I think the title should be REPLACING BORIS WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA FOR EVERYONE'S SAKE

[zxspeccyk]

"...to the dullard they don't".

Sometimes I feel like I am the only person who wants a sensible, boring, predictable person as PM - not some kind of aspirant celebrity...

If you were having a brain tumor removed, who would you prefer? Or even as the person piloting your flight? The dullard who checks everything, or the "maverick" who "wings" it?