In a very surprising announcement, Boris Johnson has taken himself out of the running:
"Boris Johnson will not run for the post of Conservative Party leader and U.K. prime minister, he announced on Thursday, saying he preferred to support the next Tory government and “stick up for the forgotten people of this country.”
"The former London mayor’s surprise decision followed the equally unexpected announcement earlier on Thursday that his fellow Leave campaigner Michael Gove, the justice secretary, was throwing his hat in the ring for the Tory leadership."
"After laying out his vision for an inclusive country that welcomed immigrants and would have greater influence around the world thanks to last week’s vote to leave the EU, Johnson dropped a bombshell by saying: “Having consulted colleagues, and in view of the circumstances in parliament, I have concluded that person cannot by me.”
“My role will be to give every possible support to the next conservative administration,” said Johnson.
"Gove said he had decided to run for leader on his own, rather than backing Johnson, because “Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.”
http://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-says-not-running-for-tory-leader-and-pm/
It's tempting to celebrate the demise of Johnson. Maybe not though. If anything, the one good thing about Johnson is despite his advocacy for Brexit he knew perfectly well it's a batty idea that he was cynically manipulating for personal gain.
Gove on the other hand is worse. For him 'Brexit means Brexit.'
"So now it shapes up to be a fight between two cabinet rivals, who have clashed often and bitterly: Gove v Theresa May. If those are the two who go ahead to the ballot of party members then, as a leaver, Gove will have the initial advantage. Still, May succeeded today in looking like a plausible, capable prime minister, even if Gove is the more stirring speaker."
"All this matters to all of us because Conservative party members are about to choose the country’s prime minister, the person who will shape Britain’s post-referendum relationship with Europe. The choice now is between, in Gove, a true Brexit believer and, in May, a candidate who today declared “Brexit means Brexit”. Those who had hoped that the next prime minister might look for a fudge, a way out of the 23 June verdict, need to lower their expectations – and accept that out might really mean out."
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/30/boris-johnson-departure-tory-leadership-contest
If I were in Britain, I'd be Labour-though that's not much to brag about anymore as the party is hopeless now. The only hope for Britain now is the Tories don't select a Brexiter.
Tom Brown had this great quote from John Oliver that I agree with. I always thought I'd love to see David Cameron forced to step down but not like this.
It seems clear that for the future of Britain you have to root for Theresa May who is all about 'One Britain.'
One Britain means anti Brexit as it's the only way to be sure it remains One Britain.
Could 2016 be the year where the best man for the job will be a woman on both sides of the Atlantic?
If you want a negative endorsement for Gove here it is:
Source who knows Murdoch's thinking tells me: "Rupert will be massively conflicted. He loves both [Gove and Boris] and will hate to choose."
https://twitter.com/iankatz1000/status/748448303520583680
As Marina Hynde says, Boris ends up being the man who wouldn't clean up his own mess:
"Thanks to the scheming Gove, we’ll never know how much of a #massivelegend Boris Johnson is outside London and the Home Counties"
Ok, here is what 'the political analyst market' at the Guardian is saying about what this means.
"Jonathan Freedland: ‘Remainers will have to accept Brexit now’
"So now it shapes up to be a fight between two cabinet rivals, who have clashed often and bitterly: Gove v Theresa May. If those are the two who go ahead to the ballot of party members then, as a leaver, Gove will have the initial advantage. Still, May succeeded today in looking like a plausible, capable prime minister, even if Gove is the more stirring speaker."
Please let it be May. Zoe Williams says it will be May. I like her:
Zoe Williams: ‘This could give Theresa May the prize’
"The surprise departure of Boris Johnson slightly diminishes the case for Theresa May, since her qualities – maturity, responsibility, the safety of a person who at least has some regard for the truth – were much more pronounced set against his lack of them. Nicky Morganwould have been a good opponent, since she underlines how sober and imperturbable May is, the calming effect she has by not looking constantly astonished, as if she’s been bitten. Yet May still benefits from comparison with the other – against Michael Gove, she looks normal. Against Stephen Crabb, she looks like a household name. Next to Andrea Leadsom, May looks charismatic."
"Naturally, May brings qualities of her own to the table: the apparent enjoyment she takes in standing up to the Police Federation has been enough to generate the inevitable comparisons with Margaret Thatcher, even though she is not a radical, not an ideologue, not a show-stopper. Indeed, their principal shared trait is the condition of being female. It would be no surprise at all to see May the winner of this contest, and then the nation, head-tilted, saying, “Really? Not one of those MPs people seemed to like?”
Maturity, responsibility, some regard for truth? Not a radical, not an ideologue, not a show-stopper? That's the female leader May resembles: Hillary Clinton.
This is the choice of Atlantic leadership: President Trump and Prime Minister Gove or President Hillary and PM May.
Gove to me sounds worse than Boris as he really seems to believe in Brexit.
More elite Guardian opinion. A futures' market in elite Guardian opinion:
"Boris Johnson will not run for the post of Conservative Party leader and U.K. prime minister, he announced on Thursday, saying he preferred to support the next Tory government and “stick up for the forgotten people of this country.”
"The former London mayor’s surprise decision followed the equally unexpected announcement earlier on Thursday that his fellow Leave campaigner Michael Gove, the justice secretary, was throwing his hat in the ring for the Tory leadership."
"After laying out his vision for an inclusive country that welcomed immigrants and would have greater influence around the world thanks to last week’s vote to leave the EU, Johnson dropped a bombshell by saying: “Having consulted colleagues, and in view of the circumstances in parliament, I have concluded that person cannot by me.”
“My role will be to give every possible support to the next conservative administration,” said Johnson.
"Gove said he had decided to run for leader on his own, rather than backing Johnson, because “Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.”
http://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-says-not-running-for-tory-leader-and-pm/
It's tempting to celebrate the demise of Johnson. Maybe not though. If anything, the one good thing about Johnson is despite his advocacy for Brexit he knew perfectly well it's a batty idea that he was cynically manipulating for personal gain.
Gove on the other hand is worse. For him 'Brexit means Brexit.'
"So now it shapes up to be a fight between two cabinet rivals, who have clashed often and bitterly: Gove v Theresa May. If those are the two who go ahead to the ballot of party members then, as a leaver, Gove will have the initial advantage. Still, May succeeded today in looking like a plausible, capable prime minister, even if Gove is the more stirring speaker."
"All this matters to all of us because Conservative party members are about to choose the country’s prime minister, the person who will shape Britain’s post-referendum relationship with Europe. The choice now is between, in Gove, a true Brexit believer and, in May, a candidate who today declared “Brexit means Brexit”. Those who had hoped that the next prime minister might look for a fudge, a way out of the 23 June verdict, need to lower their expectations – and accept that out might really mean out."
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/30/boris-johnson-departure-tory-leadership-contest
If I were in Britain, I'd be Labour-though that's not much to brag about anymore as the party is hopeless now. The only hope for Britain now is the Tories don't select a Brexiter.
Tom Brown had this great quote from John Oliver that I agree with. I always thought I'd love to see David Cameron forced to step down but not like this.
It seems clear that for the future of Britain you have to root for Theresa May who is all about 'One Britain.'
One Britain means anti Brexit as it's the only way to be sure it remains One Britain.
Could 2016 be the year where the best man for the job will be a woman on both sides of the Atlantic?
If you want a negative endorsement for Gove here it is:
Source who knows Murdoch's thinking tells me: "Rupert will be massively conflicted. He loves both [Gove and Boris] and will hate to choose."
https://twitter.com/iankatz1000/status/748448303520583680
As Marina Hynde says, Boris ends up being the man who wouldn't clean up his own mess:
"Thanks to the scheming Gove, we’ll never know how much of a #massivelegend Boris Johnson is outside London and the Home Counties"
Ok, here is what 'the political analyst market' at the Guardian is saying about what this means.
"Jonathan Freedland: ‘Remainers will have to accept Brexit now’
"So now it shapes up to be a fight between two cabinet rivals, who have clashed often and bitterly: Gove v Theresa May. If those are the two who go ahead to the ballot of party members then, as a leaver, Gove will have the initial advantage. Still, May succeeded today in looking like a plausible, capable prime minister, even if Gove is the more stirring speaker."
Please let it be May. Zoe Williams says it will be May. I like her:
Zoe Williams: ‘This could give Theresa May the prize’
"The surprise departure of Boris Johnson slightly diminishes the case for Theresa May, since her qualities – maturity, responsibility, the safety of a person who at least has some regard for the truth – were much more pronounced set against his lack of them. Nicky Morganwould have been a good opponent, since she underlines how sober and imperturbable May is, the calming effect she has by not looking constantly astonished, as if she’s been bitten. Yet May still benefits from comparison with the other – against Michael Gove, she looks normal. Against Stephen Crabb, she looks like a household name. Next to Andrea Leadsom, May looks charismatic."
"Naturally, May brings qualities of her own to the table: the apparent enjoyment she takes in standing up to the Police Federation has been enough to generate the inevitable comparisons with Margaret Thatcher, even though she is not a radical, not an ideologue, not a show-stopper. Indeed, their principal shared trait is the condition of being female. It would be no surprise at all to see May the winner of this contest, and then the nation, head-tilted, saying, “Really? Not one of those MPs people seemed to like?”
Maturity, responsibility, some regard for truth? Not a radical, not an ideologue, not a show-stopper? That's the female leader May resembles: Hillary Clinton.
This is the choice of Atlantic leadership: President Trump and Prime Minister Gove or President Hillary and PM May.
Gove to me sounds worse than Boris as he really seems to believe in Brexit.
More elite Guardian opinion. A futures' market in elite Guardian opinion:
Mary Dejevsky: ‘May v Gove will bring a more substantial tone’
"If you still thought that the past week was a long time in politics, try this morning. Within the space of a couple of hours, the whole dynamic of the Cameron succession was turned upside down. Michael Gove was in, Boris Johnson was out, and Theresa May’s unique selling point as the safest pair of hands looked a little less unique after all."
"May v Gove – though Stephen Crabb, Andrea Leadsom and others may yet come up on the outside – will have a quite different, and more substantial, tone from May v Johnson. May’s pluses are her sheer competence and her acceptability across to the party’s remainers. It is the leavers she has to convince, and she started to do this in her speech, insisting that last week’s vote was final, there would be no second referendum, and she would not call a swift general election. Without Johnson and with Gove, however, the whole complexion of the contest has changed."
Again, safe hands. If there is ever a time for safe hands, it's now.
Mark Wallace: ‘Gove shook the political earth’
"Never again let anybody say that politics is boring. The last few hours have provided the most knuckle-whitening ride the Conservative party has seen since the fall of Thatcher in November 1990."
"This morning, Boris Johnson was cock of the walk – he looked set to make further progress towards his childhood ambition to become “world king”. Stephen Crabb had gained ground after a positive launch, and all eyes were on Theresa May, to see how she would fare in launching her bid."
"Then, at two minutes past nine, everything changed. Michael Gove announced that he would be standing. Not only that, but he justified the decision with a devastating judgment: “Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.”
"The political earth shook – Gove had provided Johnson not only with a powerful endorsement but also with the support of many leaver MPs, several of whom saw his presence as a guarantor that there would be no dilution of Brexit."
"Amid all the chaos, a comfortable and confident May made the most of her opportunity. Certainty and stability were at the heart of her pitch, and she was more than happy for her rivals to illuminate those themes for her. The race is far from over – in all likelihood she will still have a long summer battling one of Gove, Leadsom, Fox or Crabb – but she clearly knew that the morning’s events helped her above all others."
Let's hope that's the case. If we have Hillary Clinton and Teresa May at the end of the year, both countries will have dodged a serious bullet.
As for old Boris? I think he knew this Brexit thing was madness from the start. He had expected it to lose but his support of it to give him the standing to be the next PM.
Now that dog actually caught the car he was hoisted on his own petard.
"If you still thought that the past week was a long time in politics, try this morning. Within the space of a couple of hours, the whole dynamic of the Cameron succession was turned upside down. Michael Gove was in, Boris Johnson was out, and Theresa May’s unique selling point as the safest pair of hands looked a little less unique after all."
"May v Gove – though Stephen Crabb, Andrea Leadsom and others may yet come up on the outside – will have a quite different, and more substantial, tone from May v Johnson. May’s pluses are her sheer competence and her acceptability across to the party’s remainers. It is the leavers she has to convince, and she started to do this in her speech, insisting that last week’s vote was final, there would be no second referendum, and she would not call a swift general election. Without Johnson and with Gove, however, the whole complexion of the contest has changed."
Again, safe hands. If there is ever a time for safe hands, it's now.
Mark Wallace: ‘Gove shook the political earth’
"Never again let anybody say that politics is boring. The last few hours have provided the most knuckle-whitening ride the Conservative party has seen since the fall of Thatcher in November 1990."
"This morning, Boris Johnson was cock of the walk – he looked set to make further progress towards his childhood ambition to become “world king”. Stephen Crabb had gained ground after a positive launch, and all eyes were on Theresa May, to see how she would fare in launching her bid."
"Then, at two minutes past nine, everything changed. Michael Gove announced that he would be standing. Not only that, but he justified the decision with a devastating judgment: “Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.”
"The political earth shook – Gove had provided Johnson not only with a powerful endorsement but also with the support of many leaver MPs, several of whom saw his presence as a guarantor that there would be no dilution of Brexit."
"Amid all the chaos, a comfortable and confident May made the most of her opportunity. Certainty and stability were at the heart of her pitch, and she was more than happy for her rivals to illuminate those themes for her. The race is far from over – in all likelihood she will still have a long summer battling one of Gove, Leadsom, Fox or Crabb – but she clearly knew that the morning’s events helped her above all others."
Let's hope that's the case. If we have Hillary Clinton and Teresa May at the end of the year, both countries will have dodged a serious bullet.
As for old Boris? I think he knew this Brexit thing was madness from the start. He had expected it to lose but his support of it to give him the standing to be the next PM.
Now that dog actually caught the car he was hoisted on his own petard.
Or to quote HBO's "Veep", hoisted on his own retard.
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