# Rishi Sunak tries to lead the UK **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 24, 2022, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706 "2022-10-24T13:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/562 "2023-12-20T11:50:21Z")
We’re not actually at the point where the Tories are setting up and then losing by-elections so fast that we won’t need a general election to change government, but we are set up for “corrupt/bully/harasser Tory MP recalled in disgrace…loser Tories lose again, guess everybody hates them” being a leitmotif of news reporting throughout the year. This is unlikely to be a good platform for a general election. Does that mean Sunak will bite the turd sandwich now and call a May election? I’d like to think so because the sooner the better, but realistically, no, he’ll hope for something better and have a bigger sandwich to eat later. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/563 "2023-12-20T20:27:55Z")
No, they’ll take as long as they can to mess things up as much as possible, and leave their successors in an impossible position to try and clean up after them. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/564 "2023-12-20T21:30:06Z")
Just like the Republicans over here! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/565 "2023-12-20T21:49:00Z")
Hands Across the Water, and all that… ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/566 "2023-12-20T21:56:08Z")
🥂 Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/567 "2023-12-21T11:03:40Z")
It’s all reminiscent of the slow death of Major’s government - and he dragged on until the last possible minute. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/568 "2023-12-21T16:20:02Z")
Just seen this, which makes me wonder if the polls are flattering Sunak > 52 Tory MPs are standing down at the next election. These people have to some extent a personal vote in their constituency. They are known faces, they appear at community events, they have some sort of track record as constituency MPs. Now, they might be awful! But if they are good, if they can command some level of personal vote, then the fact they are not standing to be replaced as candidate by somebody that to the nearest approximation nobody knows from Adam then on the margin (and on these polling numbers everyone is on the margin) that could costs seats. ---
**Author:** ![UDS1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47774/32.png) [@UDS1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS1)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/569 "2023-12-22T00:59:54Z")
Well, a nontrivial number of them are standing down because they have no prospect of being re-elected, even with whatever name recognition/personal following they have. In those cases the Tory loss is already baked in; the sitting MP standing down does not add to it. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/570 "2023-12-22T08:53:55Z")
That’s a good point ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/571 "2023-12-27T18:13:53Z")
Jacques Delors died today. Architect of the European integration that the UK so wisely rejected in 2016, with the myriad benefits that have since accrued to our great nation. Given our dubious history with Europe, it’s sad but fitting that in a brief five-sentence obituary on the BBC site, one of those five sentences was a reminder (as if it were needed) of the famous _Sun_ headline “Up Yours Delors”. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/572 "2023-12-28T11:26:22Z")
![](https://media1.tenor.com/m/1xJdcCo_h7UAAAAd/sarcasm-detector-the-simpsons.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/573 "2023-12-28T11:31:49Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Given our dubious history with Europe, it’s sad but fitting that in a brief five-sentence obituary on the BBC site, one of those five sentences was a reminder (as if it were needed) of the famous _Sun_ headline “Up Yours Delors”. And even more fitting that it doesn’t rhyme, contrary to what was probably the intent… ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/574 "2023-12-28T11:34:45Z")
It almost certainly does rhyme to a Sun reader. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/575 "2023-12-28T11:44:52Z")
I’m willing to bet it does. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/576 "2023-12-29T18:41:42Z")
Today’s news: > **[Rishi Sunak's Ratings Among Tory Members Just Reached A New Low](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rishi-sunak-ratings-among-conservative-members_uk_658e866ee4b0cd3cf0e4fdbb)** > > The prime minister has never been more unpopular with his own party. Headline says it all, really. j ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/577 "2023-12-29T18:53:38Z")
A piece about the possible future direction of the Conservatives that survive the expected rout (granted, The Guardian is _parti pris_ against them, but it’s not unusual for a party that loses an election to revert to its members’ idea of the true faith) > **[Heavy election defeat could lead to Tory lurch to right, analysis shows](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/dec/28/heavy-election-defeat-could-lead-to-tory-lurch-to-right-analysis-shows)** > > With another two-point slip from current polling, about 40% of Tory MPs would come from populist right ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/578 "2023-12-29T19:45:12Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Today’s news: Poor Rishi. My mum would have voted for him because he has a nice face, that factored quite prominently in her voting decisions. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/579 "2023-12-29T22:21:21Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Headline says it all, really. The pic in the article is well chosen. His expression just screams “I have no idea how to escape this predicament, and little understanding of how I got into it.” Sincere bewilderment. > [@PatrickLondon](#): > > but it’s not unusual for a party that loses an election to revert to its members’ idea of the true faith) Quite. The more interesting question is whether that instinct will find enough followers among your country’s voters. The corresponding forces of mean-spirited fundamentalist rightism in this country seem to be doing just fine lurching ever farther out there. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/580 "2024-01-06T11:44:31Z")
And another bye-election on the way as one more Tory jumps ship > **[Tory MP Chris Skidmore quits in protest at climate policy | ITV News](https://www.itv.com/news/2024-01-05/chris-skidmore-said-he-will-resign-as-mp-over-new-oil-and-gas-licences)** > > Ex-energy minister Chris Skidmore has said he will resign the Conservative whip over the Government’s proposed legislation allowing new oil and gas licenses. | ITV National News ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/581 "2024-01-06T12:24:56Z")
> [@Toffe](#): > > Why is this so important to the government? Typically governments around the world will promise (whether they actually mean it or not) to e.g. improve access to health care, improve education, improve standard of living, etc. The tories, now having left the world’s biggest trading bloc, now seem laser-focused on… shipping desperate asylum-seekers attempting to make a better lives for themselves and their families while contributing to their host country’s economy and society, to Rwanda at great cost to the taxpayer and no benefit to anyone. Some have said it’s a distraction tactic - to give the opposition a really egregious thing to focus on and legitimately complain about (and if it doesn’t happen, then all that complaint can just be waved off), as well as to give the hardcore ‘comin over ere’ bigots something to feed on. So the attention of both opposition and extreme supporters is occupied, while endless other fraud and incompetence is going largely unnoticed. There are those that say the government actually has zero intention of sending anyone to Rwanda; that it’s just too absurd to be true, but I thought the same thing was perhaps true about jamming asylum seekers into an under-provisioned, overcrowded, woefully unsafe floating prison they were setting up off Portland, at the same time as watching it become reality. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706.md?page=30)