What do a former school teacher, Rand Paul, and mediocre fish and chips chef have in common? They are just a few of the many faces running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. The Conservative and Unionist Party has always been a monolith of British politics, holding sway at nearly every point in our nation’s history. However, in the coming days, the party will be tested like never before. The Tory-led government is facing a vote of no confidence with the entire opposition bench accusing the government of misleading Parliament and gross incompetence. Inside the party itself, things are not looking much better with PM Milli resigning and leaving the party without a central figure to lead. Whoever is elected will have big shoes to fill and the tremendous job of restoring the Conservatives back to their former glory. Today I sit down with some of the candidates in the race to see who just might be crowned leader of the Party and potentially win the keys to Number 10.
First, we have what many would call the front runner, the current Foreign Secretary and Deputy Leader, model-willem. When I sat down with Willem in his office in Westminster, he spoke with a determined tone despite being clearly exhausted with the business of Parliament. With an established position of leadership and a wide breadth of experience, it’s not hard to see why he’s currently polling ahead of the pack. However, Willem was recently at the heart of the Iran controversy that directly sparked the VONC. When questioned on his actions hit to his reputation he fired back responding “[I] and my party doesn’t agree with the concerns laid out specifically against me and we know that we acted in the best way possible.” An iron-willed stance that echoed the party line and the reasoning supported by most Consertative MPs.
Questioned about what ailed the party, Willem told me that the shift from a right-wing Tory-led government to the more centrist government was a cause for confusion as it left voters confused about what the party stood for and what the public was voting for. An interesting idea and perhaps a sign of even a bit of nostalgia in the party itself and Willem also expressed the need to reach out to other parties like the LPUK while maintaining their already good relations with Liberal Democrats. It seemed like under a Willem premiership more change would follow as she also hinted as the creating of internal party committees to give more voice to backbenchers.
When questioned about his temper and distractions, an criticism lobbied by his opponent Yukub. Willem has responded that his so temper to him was more of a passion and his mistakes were a learning opportunity. . When asked about the government failure in Wales, Willem blamed on his tendency to maybe trust people too much and try to see in the good in them. Finally when I pressed him on members picking between him and Yukub should pick him because of his greater experience in higher positions and ability work with other parties. Though certainly a formidable candidate, worries over his recent performance as Foreign Secretary and the collapse of his government in Wales could have some Tory insider taking a second at Willem.
The situation in Wales showed me that I can trust people a lot, maybe a bit too much and I always see the good in people. Those are important qualities for a leader in my opinion. Without those a leader gets locked up in his own bubble without letting people in and play their parts.
Model-Willem
Our second candidate is a rising star within the Party, none other than BrexitGlory. The political machine was full of energy and passion as we sat down in a local pub for the interview. Despite him being relativity young, his head was already a jungle of grey hair, a sign of stress to come if elected leader no doubt. BrexitGlory emphasized his activity in the commons and new approach as the solution to the party’s current dilemmas. His experience or lack thereof was not a concern in these trying times. He focused instead on his policy of opening up political connections across the spectrum, plans for reform, and increased technology. However when questioned about his statement expressing admiring Enoch Powell which has attracted criticism from those both in and outside of the Party-he dismissed the claims exclaiming: “What a boring question.”
What a boring question. People are free to select quotes out of context, that is their freedom, I can’t stop that!
BrexitGlory
His message to the Party was one of bringing new blood to the halls of CCHQ, highlighting his experience in getting backbenchers active and involved during his tenure as Secretary of Transport. I then asked him about his background which revealed that he worked in IT working his way up and the fact he could rip an apple in two with his bare hands. As for his personal life, he was quick to tell me it was pretty boring. No worries, I reassured him not all of us can be Casanovas.
The third candidate I had the pleasure of interviewing is an even newer face to the political arena /u/MerriluPutrid. I flew to her home in Birmingham where I had the pleasure of enjoying some freshly brewed tea and homemade biscuits. She told me that she previously ran a fish and chips shop but the food was just okay. Briefly serving as an MP the last term, her real start came when she elected MP for West Midlands the last election. A bit of curiosity she might be a bit of unknown to members of her own party and certainly to the wider political world. When asked what prompted her to run, she conveyed the need for a fresh perspective against what she saw as an increasingly radical Labour.
My message to my party is that the way things are going at the moment, we may be sitting on the opposition benches soon. We need a fresh face who will help rally the British people towards the Conservative cause and work to mend our relations with smaller parties, while still not surrendering our core values.
MerrilyPutrid
Putrid sang a song of broad unity even as Westminster increasingly becomes more partisan. When asked why someone so new should be trusted with what may the keys to Number 10, she replied a fresh slate is what the party and the country united. The rest of the party and opposition had no reason to hate her, something that cannot be said about every candidate in the race. Though scant on implementable policy, she was in a position to be an alternative pick for those fed with the old guard. As I left Birmingham, I left with a portrait of a fresh-faced and strongly centrist candidate, perhaps the first of the Tory new guard stepping into greater power.
The next candidate I met was paul_rand, the Secretary of State for education. I interviewed on the eve of his manifesto release which was the longest of any candidates. What stood out to me the most was the personal promise of activity and plan for strengthening the Tory hold over devolved assembles a unique aspect of his manifesto. When asked about his stance on the devolution debate he signaled that he felt that the current arrangement was fine but would like to formalize the transfers of power.
As for his detractors, especially in the LPUK he pointed to his manifesto of his broad-church ideals and willingness to across the aisle. Spoken like a man who had spent much time as a civil servant as Rand serviced in the civil service for HMRC in northern England. As for his final message to his party and the backbenchers he issued a call to arms.
As for my message for my own party and backbenchers, I am issuing a call to arms, I want everyone in this party to know that they have a place under my leadership, they serve a vital role and they will be needed in the fight we must wage to put our vision to the people.
Rand
The final candidate I interviewed was Yukub a old time member of the party and highly regarded in his right. For an seasoned politician, I dove straight into questioning. When asked why newer members should trust him, he responded saying that as a old face he was similar, trusted and with a long and proven track record. I then pivoted to what work he could point recently, given that opponent BrexitGlory had made his tremendous activity in the Commons a tenet of his campaign. Yukub discussed that his work was behind the scenes in writing legislation and in the press .
Yukub was quick to have me turn to his colleagues in the party who he assured would support his record and work. To be fair, many senior members of the party including several former Prime Ministers was endorsed Yukub. His message to the party was about concern about a dangerous Labour Party knocking at the door and not just him but the entire party needed to have a joint effort to maintain power and the trust of the people. In the days since he announced his candidacy, support has been building with Yukub securing many big name endorsements and the press shifting to call him the front-runner. It just might that his old dog can learn some new tricks.
For long, we have dominated the political scene. But we cannot afford to become complacent Labour are banging on the gates; they have their eyes on the prize — Number 10, Downing Street. . For those of us who where here, only some years ago, to experience the then left-wing hegemony, it is an particularly real and unpalatable thought. The country, more than ever, depends on us securing our position and holding Labour at bay. We must stand strong, stand together. I hope to have your confidence, and I can assure you it will be repaid, a thousandfold.
Yukub
To summarize, despite meeting many different candidates I picked up on a lot more in common than one would expect. Nearly all of the candidates spoke of unity that it might as well be a Tory bumper sticker. More interestingly all candidates seem interested in restoring relations with their old friends in the LPUK. Of course, only time will tell how much of this is campaign blusters versus actually policy. Similarly, it seems “One Nation Conservative” has become a buzzword in this election with nearly every candidate empathizing core conservative values. However, even though all candidates want unity inside the party maybe members tell me this election is about the soul of the party.
Tory backbenchers and senior officials I talked to spoke of this election and the future party leader charting the course for the party. Will the party move to the right, stay in the center or move on the left. Many spoke the move to move from working with the LPUK to pass more right-wing budget than working withe Liberal Democrats left the voters and party members puzzled on the goals and what course the party was charting for the country. Former Party leader PM, DrCaeserMD echoed this sentiment. Now more than ever the party needed a clear message and direction. In the days since he has endorsed Yukub in the election.
What’s clear is that the party has a very important choice ahead of it. We may not only be electing our next leader, but also our next prime minister. We can’t take this for granted.
DrCaeserMD
The main difference in this election boils down to the race between the old and new guard. Veteran politicians like Willem and Yukub are facing against new faces like BrexitGlory and Putrid. While they all want to bring their party forward they disagree on the methods to do see and how fast they need want to move. Unfortunately for the new guard while they have an abundance of energy, most members I talked depicted the race being between the front-runner Willem and decorated Yukub with rising star BrexitGlory finishing in third. The battle to watch this election will be between two experienced politicians while the BrexitGlory campaign hopes to turn heads in the party by gathering a significant base of support and hoping to pull off an upset by maybe upstaging one of the front runners.
Whoever wins this election, it is clear that a new group of Tories are making their way up and they want their wishes to be heeded. This leadership election is not so much about policy but more about who is the better person to achieve very similar goals all round. Only time will tell if the Conservatives will survive the VONC and who will be next to the Party.
Model Telegraph 