[Samanfur]

We were never going to hit the nadir with Johnson.

Johnson opened up a whole new level of awful, by debasing the office of PM to something that the calibre of Johnson could hold:

[Abernathy]

Well, to be honest, I think Sunak & Truss do have a valid point. There have already been two TV debates and even I, political geek that I am, have no appetite for yet another instalment of the freak show with 5 arseholes re--treading the same utter bollocks about cutting taxes and wokery. Particularly as the relevant decisive electorate in the contest is currently restricted to 360 Tory MPs., and they are already doing their own untelevised hustings.

I think both Truss and Sunak have said they'll do more TV debates if they're in the final two and the electorate opens out to the swivel-eyed gammons in the wider party, which is fair enough.

[Andy McDandy]

While I think it's important to know what our PM-to-be is like (as if we didn't know already), the process strikes me as resembling being fitted for a colostomy bag - it's necessary, you have no real say in it, and whatever the outcome you're leaving with a sack of shit whether you want one or not.

Part of me wonders if it really makes any difference - the "serious contender" candidates don't seem to have any radical differences, and they'll probably employ half the others, whoever wins. I suspect, as Abers says, the real campaign is being held in Westminster and on Tory WhatsApp groups, and this is all for show. After all, day one on the job will be meeting with Murdoch and Rothermere and being told what their agenda is.

[Boiler]

Sky News has cancelled Tuesday's debate as Truss and Sunak have pulled out.

Considering the amount of energy it takes to finally end up with 800mV p-p into 75Ω, I count this as a green 'win'.

They prefer their clients at the Mail, Express and Standard to do their talking.
Is this the calibre of candidate we are reduced to.

I through we had hit the nadir with Johnson.

Good job the question mark on the Boris Johnson thread was never taken off, isn't it? I genuinely think there is worse to come.

[Boiler]

Re: these TV debates - to me anyway, it does reinforce the idea for some that we have a presidential system in place here in the UK, which of course we don't.

[Andy McDandy]

I remember when they were introduced* in 2010 and Tony Parsehole writing a column in the Mirror about how wonderful and democratising they were, what bliss it was in that dawn to be alive, the political system dragged kicking and screaming into the new millennium and so on.

Obviously written before the event, as the next day (so 2 days after the actual debate) it became clear that Nick Clegg had made the best impression, and Parsehole wheeled out another column decrying debates as an American gimmick with no place in our hallowed system.

*I distinctly remember Ashdown and Blair facing off against Michael Heseltine in a TV studio during the 1997 GE campaign.

[Youngian]

*I distinctly remember Ashdown and Blair facing off against Michael Heseltine in a TV studio during the 1997 GE campaign.

There was a ludicrous notion back then that the PM’s gravitas was eroded by debating mere opposition leaders. Whereas it must have looked like John Major bottled it.

[Boiler]

Most Tory leadership candidates: "I'll cut taxes on day one".

IMF: "Not so fast."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62168489

[satnav]

The cutting taxes on day one claim is utterly ridiculous. The first job the new leader will have to do is select a cabinet. They would then have to put proposals through parliament and get them voted through. This could well be delayed by the fact that September is party conference time so parliament only sits for a few days in September. So much for the candidates claiming to be more open and honest than Boris.

[Spoonman]

Sky News has cancelled Tuesday's debate as Truss and Sunak have pulled out.

I only wish Truss' dad had pulled out.

[Abernathy]

Apparently, Tugendhat has now been eliminated (from the contest).

[davidjay]

Badenoch - 58
Mordaunt - 82
Sunak - 115
Truss - 71
Tugendhat - 31 (eliminated)

[Watchman]

Sky News has cancelled Tuesday's debate as Truss and Sunak have pulled out.

I only wish Truss' dad had pulled out.

Not as much as I wished Stanley had

[Youngian]

Trusted Truss

[Watchman]

Christ; that full on “Here’s Chukey”

[Boiler]

Apparently, Tugendhat has now been eliminated (from the contest).

Assuming Johnson's "deep state" doesn't do the other sort of elimination.

I had the misfortune to catch that vile, thick-as-shit cunt Gullis on the tellybox. It lasted for as long as it took me to stab the "off" button on the remote.

[Youngian]

[satnav]

If a dozen or so of Sunak's supporters decided lend their votes to Badenoch in the next round they could easily ensure that Truss gets knocked out in the next round.

[Boiler]

If a dozen or so of Sunak's supporters decided lend their votes to Badenoch in the next round they could easily ensure that Truss gets knocked out in the next round.

I don't know who's worse though: The Trussbot or Badenoch.

[satnav]

I just think it would be funny to see Truss get knocked out early after she has souled her soul to try and land the top job. Truss also seems to have quite a bit of baggage, IDS is playing a big roll in her campaign so a Truss cabinet would probably feature IDS and many of the deadbeat ministers who Johnson has had in his cabinet for the last 3 years.