# 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:** 38
**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:** [April 28, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/742 "2024-04-28T21:01:44Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Members of UKIP, the UK Independence Party. Pardon the ignorant question, but what are they trying to make the UK independent from? The UK??? ---
**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:** [April 28, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/743 "2024-04-28T21:19:36Z")
It was a Brexit thing. They’re now called the Reform Party 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/744 "2024-04-28T21:19:39Z")
It’s the first iteration of what is now the Reform party, was also the Brexit party. Independence from the EU, and nowadays more focused on invading migrants, (who come via the EU) ---
**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:** [April 28, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/745 "2024-04-28T21:25:40Z")
Thanks! Makes sense now. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2024, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/746 "2024-04-29T11:02:42Z")
And there are other split-offs from what I would see as the “Stop the world, I want to get off” tendency. There’s one called the [Heritage Party](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Party_(UK)) that’s put up a slate for the London Assembly elections this week (no chance) that is explicitly a breakaway from ReformUK, and other groupuscules and ego-trippers fishing in the same pond (the “[Social Democratic Party](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Party_(UK,_1990%E2%80%93present))” label seems to have been taken over by such, not to mention [Laurence Fox and his fan club,](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/mar/28/laurence-fox-ruled-out-london-mayor-contest-errors-nomination?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other) who couldn’t even recognise a whelk stall, let alone run one). Reform might perhaps pick up one of the London-wide (proportional representation) seats, but they’re more likely just going to be spoiling the Tory vote. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/747 "2024-04-29T14:36:02Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Reform might perhaps pick up one of the London-wide (proportional representation) seats, but they’re more likely just going to be spoiling the Tory vote. Depending on when the election is held and how bad the public perception of the Tories is, I wonder if they might lose some seats to Reform in Parliament too if there’s enough of a local right-wing defection to the fringe. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/748 "2024-04-29T14:50:33Z")
That kind of depends, I think there’s been a total of one elected kipper MP in all their time, the first past the post system doesn’t work very well for them at all. I know the tories are bad, but I don’t think the kipper voters make up for the likes of libdem or labour taking the votes. I’d be surprised if any kipper MP is voted in again (in whatever fragment of that lot their name is nowadays, reform, reclaim, brexit, whatever). ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/749 "2024-04-29T18:56:38Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > There’s one called the [Heritage Party](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Party_(UK)) that’s put up a slate for the London Assembly elections this week (no chance) that is explicitly a breakaway from ReformUK, and other groupuscules and ego-trippers fishing in the same pond How are they connected to the People’s Front of Judea? ---
**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:** [May 2, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/750 "2024-05-02T19:05:35Z")
For those who prefer a British style of schadenfreude: former PM and perpetual corrupt incompetent Boris Johnson, who brought in the requirement to present photo ID in order to vote, [was turned away from the polls today because he forgot his photo ID](https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-snp-leadership-hopeful-issues-warning-to-opposition-parties-12593360). He did manage to vote later but still, this is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/751 "2024-05-02T19:12:40Z")
Oh, I fucking LOVE that. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/752 "2024-05-03T02:41:33Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > > [@PatrickLondon](#): > > > > There’s one called the [Heritage Party](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Party_(UK)) that’s put up a slate for the London Assembly elections this week (no chance) that is explicitly a breakaway from ReformUK, and other groupuscules and ego-trippers fishing in the same pond > > How are they connected to the People’s Front of Judea? _Splitters!_ ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/753 "2024-05-03T06:28:06Z")
And it looks as though the results will be as bad for the Tories as presaged. A 26% swing against them in the parliamentary by-election in Blackpool, and in the council elections declared so far, half of the seats they were defending have been lost - but more results will come in during the day and over the weekend. And in the Department of Wouldn’t You Just Know It: > **[Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting to bring...](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/02/minister-sorry-as-veterans-find-id-card-not-valid-for-english-elections)** > > Former PM made the requirement to bring photo ID a stipulation of the Elections Act in 2022 ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/754 "2024-05-03T08:58:36Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Boris Johnson, who brought in the requirement to present photo ID in order to vote, [was turned away from the polls today because he forgot his photo ID](https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-snp-leadership-hopeful-issues-warning-to-opposition-parties-12593360) The wife observes: on election day (and possibly _bye-bye_ Rishi), Boris Johnson manages to make the headlines with his jovial buffoon brand. Just fancy. Odds that this was entirely deliberate? j ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/755 "2024-05-03T09:03:01Z")
I had considered it. He often leavens his inadvertent idiocy with deliberate idiocy. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/756 "2024-05-03T09:53:55Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > He did manage to vote later but still, this is hilarious. A party spokesman also had to confirm that yes, he did vote Conservative in the end. Yes, speculation was that he couldn’t even do that. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/757 "2024-05-03T12:54:06Z")
How does the party spokesperson (a/k/a Mouth of Sunak) know that? Because Boris told him? Sure, I trust Boris…. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/758 "2024-05-03T19:05:02Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I had considered it. He often leavens his inadvertent idiocy with deliberate idiocy. He used to deliberately muss his hair up before going before the cameras, playing up the goofy common man notion that he was fond of peddling. There were also rumours that getting stuck on the zipline was preplanned. Hadn’t even thought about the ID thing being deliberate, but it makes sense. He wouldn’t be concerned about how hypocritical it makes him look if it gets him some headlines. Apparently Tom Hunt, the MP from Ipswich, only realized last night that he didn’t have the necessary ID either and put out a plea for someone to help him with a proxy vote. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2024, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/759 "2024-05-04T05:50:16Z")
Good old Mr Rhyming Slang. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2024, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/760 "2024-05-04T08:22:02Z")
Yeah. What a Jodrell. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2024, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706/761 "2024-05-05T11:33:50Z")
The results are bad for the Tories, if not quite so catastrophic as the opinion polls suggested. But looks as though there’s no great momentum to unseat Sunak before the general election. > **[Local election results 2024 in England](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/england/results)** > > Get the latest news and election results in the 2024 Local elections from BBC News > **[Tories find reasons to be cheerful despite election bloodbath](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/03/tories-reasons-to-be-cheerful-despite-election-bloodbath)** > > On track to lose 500 council seats, Conservatives point to Labour’s failure to win control of Harlow council – by one seat [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rishi-sunak-tries-to-lead-the-uk/973706.md?page=39)