Sunak ally dismisses speculation PM could quit before polling day

21 comments

1. Oh, go on Rishi. Ragequit, you know you want to. It’d be hysterical.

2. It would be so funny if he did but obviously that’s never going to happen.

3. CCHQ are determined to amplify misleading claims unsupported by their own civil service:

   >*Mel Stride, one of the Prime Minister’s closest allies, said there is “no question” Mr Sunak will lead the Conservatives into polling day, following speculation he could quit in the wake of the D-Day debacle.*

   >*He said “taxes are coming down” and “we can continue that journey because of our stewardship of the economy and the fact we have got a plan”.*

   According to [a letter](https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Letter_from_Sir_Robert_Chote_to_Angela_Eagle_MP_statements_on_tax_changes.pdf) from UK’s statistics authority:

   *On 22 November 2023, Laura Trott MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told the House of Commons, “I am sure the hon. Lady will be interested to know that taxes for the average worker have gone down by £1,000”. On 30 November she said that “taxes for the average worker will have gone down by £1,000 since 2010”.*

   *I suspect that the public are more likely to have been misled – or at least confused – by Ms Trott’s statements, both of which would probably suggest to a typical listener that the average worker’s overall tax bill has fallen in cash terms.*

   *The Office for Statistics Regulation is increasing its engagement with government departments, including HM Treasury, to ensure future communications do not have the potential to mislead and comply with the principles of intelligent transparency.*

4. Has a party leader, government incumbent or otherwise, quit during the general election campaign in the past?

   It seems like an unreasonable expectation of something so extraordinarily unlikely to even consider it.

5. To be fair to Sunak, every time there’s been a new Tory PM, the party have found a way to say *’ah! It’s him/her that’s the problem!’* and every time they install someone new it just gets worse.

   I’d suggest that the real issue is the party…

6. Should do it, just to make the next leader appear even more toxic.

7. it’s not “speculation he might quit” – This is the Tory’s response to the howls of rage on the comments sections, and probably being met on the doorstep – people saying that he SHOULD quit after his D-day draft dodging

8. It would be hilarious, but highly unlikely. And it wouldn’t improve their prospects at all.

   Still if I were Rishi, wealthy enough to give everyone the finger and walk away, screwed over by many in my own party even as I took them to unavoidable defeat, I would. Just for laughs and revenge.

9. Do I hear a whisper of “Borris, Borris” in the halls of the Conservative party HQ? If Bojo came back we I have a feeling the Conservatives might actually stand a fighting chance

10. This is my tenth UK general election, as a voter. I never imagined I would see a campaign where the question of the incumbent leader resigning before the election would even make sense to ask.

11. Probably because no Tory MP wants to hold the leadership right now.

12. He absolutely should.

    His D-Day fuck up has cost The Conservative Party dearly.

    He comes across as a pathetic figure.

    The only chance that the conservatives have to save a few seats rests without him.

13. The future is becoming more clear.

    Sunak loses but stays as caretaker leader over the summer and he can arrive in California in time for the next semester.

    Farage wins Clacton and there is enormous grass-roots demand for the Tories to admit him, he’d also bring 12% of voters back with him. That’s irresistible to the Tory party. It also means they get a “proper British leader who understands British culture” unlike the other two most likely leadership candidates, Badenoch or Patel.

    Sunak admits him, he DGAF anyway, Farage is installed as party saviour to rapturous applause at Conference.

    Starmer spends five years floundering dealing with the reality of there being no money left. Farage promises milk and honey and a few good soundbites. The New Conservative Party (definitely not like the old one) wins in 2029 and we enter another decade of Tory shite.

14. I think, he’ll wait to be kicked out because of the perks of the job and likely lining up a lot of contracts for his wife’s business. The only way I can see him quitting is, if he legit doesn’t want to be voted out of power thus quitting is his way of robbing the voters of it, in his mind.

15. if he quit now it’d only be to spite his successor.

    ironically whoever his successor is (and at this point the entire party) want him to stay so they can pin all their woes on him and start fresh

16. Sunak ally uses journalists to sound out what the response would be if Sunak did what he desperately wants to do.

17. I think he’ll quit when he loses and then he’ll bugger off to America.

18. So, given official denial is always the first confirmation of resignation, what do we reckon,  3 days, or 4?

    Or do we assume that even the Tory part are not quite that silly.

19. Not a great sign when people start denying they are going to resign. Usually ends with resignation.

20. Just the fact that this article has to be written is a bad thing for them

21. A lot of these dismissed rumours have come to fruition. I wouldn’t doubt it, honestly.