Conservative party/opposition watch

[UndercoverElephant]

He's not elected, but can be appointed such a high office ?

He has been made a Baron for life. He can therefore sit in the Lords. Members of the Lords in the cabinet used to be commonplace, and has happened at least twice in the last 20 years.

Also signals a total u-turn on Brexit - as Foreign Secretary he'll be first point of contact for the EU....

I don't think that is true at all. Brexit is history. You cannot u-turn on history.

[clv101]

Sure, but it's more likely than not we'll re-enter the single market and customs union at some point.

It is a remarkable appointment, no MP wanted the job, or more likely Sunak didn't think any of those willing were capable. At least Cameron won't lose his seat next year! If willing to cast the net wider though, plenty of better choices, William Hague for one.

It hardly represents 'change' going into the next election. Can't imagine Cameron brings many votes with him.

[UndercoverElephant]

Sure, but it's more likely than not we'll re-enter the single market and customs union at some point.

Really? I'd personally put the probability of that happening as extremely low. Not impossible, but I just can't see how it could be made to work politically.

It is a remarkable appointment, no MP wanted the job, or more likely Sunak didn't think any of those willing were capable. At least Cameron won't lose his seat next year! If willing to cast the net wider though, plenty of better choices, William Hague for one.

It hardly represents 'change' going into the next election. Can't imagine Cameron brings many votes with him.

It looks like a desperate attempt by Sunak to at least hang on to the impression that he's doing a professional job. Cameron is a relatively safe pair of hands. But as a strategy for the next election it is hopeless. It just confirms that Sunak himself believes the tories are a spent force.

[Mark]

He's not elected, but can be appointed to such a high office ?

He has been made a Baron for life. He can therefore sit in the Lords. Members of the Lords in the cabinet used to be commonplace, and has happened at least twice in the last 20 years.

OK, it might be 'legal', but to such a senior position ?
There must be a democratic deficit to consider here ?

[Mark]

Sure, but it's more likely than not we'll re-enter the single market and customs union at some point.

Really? I'd personally put the probability of that happening as extremely low. Not impossible, but I just can't see how it could be made to work politically.

I'd put it higher than 'extremely low' - I'd say those changes are possible, rather than probable in the next 5yrs...
Problem with Brexit being that none of the benefits can be seen....
No great trade deals with the rest of the world...
No massive cash injection every week into the NHS...
No reduction in the flow of people into the UK...
Unresolved problems in Northern Ireland...

So people ask what all the years of chaos were actually for....
Most businesses that trade with the EU want to re-enter the single market and customs union...
But agree that I can't see us fully rejoining the EU for the foreseeable future...

[clv101]

I doubt it'll happen in Labour's first term, it's a second term thing, might be a major feature of the 2029 election... If civilization is still alive and kicking.

[UndercoverElephant]

He's not elected, but can be appointed to such a high office ?

He has been made a Baron for life. He can therefore sit in the Lords. Members of the Lords in the cabinet used to be commonplace, and has happened at least twice in the last 20 years.

OK, it might be 'legal', but to such a senior position ?
There must be a democratic deficit to consider here ?

Not the way the UK government system works. As long as you can answer questions in parliament then you can be appointed to the executive.

[UndercoverElephant]

I doubt it'll happen in Labour's first term, it's a second term thing, might be a major feature of the 2029 election... If civilization is still alive and kicking.

I cannot see circumstances whereby a government which proposes a restoration of unlimited immigration from the EU will get anywhere near power. Even proposing a referendum which risks that outcome will cause a repeat of "the collapse of the red wall".

It is likely that Labour will come under pressure from remainers to put such a referendum in their 2029 manifesto, but to do so would be a huge gift to the tories. Obviously there are too many unknowns but my gut tells me that this would be an election-losing policy. This would only not be the case if polls were showing a very large majority for rejoining the EU (70%+).

The problem is that I don't think this would gain them many votes from people who would otherwise vote tory. All it would do is appeal people who were going to vote Labour anyway, and who do not want to risk a tory government by protest-voting for the EU-supporting libdems in seats held by labour where the tories could win.

[clv101]

The main thing it would 'do' would be to help the economy, trade being rather important. Elections are won and lost on the strength of the economy.

However, it's at least another government away and everything (even structure of EU) can change before then. It may not be even be about CU&SM but rather some new trade relationships between countries in Europe. Our trading relationship with other countries in Europe is currently a mess and *something* will come along to significantly improve it.

[UndercoverElephant]

The main thing it would 'do' would be to help the economy, trade being rather important. Elections are won and lost on the strength of the economy.

The brexit referendum wasn't though, was it? If it had been mostly about economics, remain would have won.

However, it's at least another government away and everything (even structure of EU) can change before then. It may not be even be about CU&SM but rather some new trade relationships between countries in Europe. Our trading relationship with other countries in Europe is currently a mess and *something* will come along to significantly improve it.

If the UK can improve trade relations with the EU without reinstating free movement then that would certainly be a winning option. It is the EU that needs to change its position to make that possible.

[Mark]

He has been made a Baron for life. He can therefore sit in the Lords. Members of the Lords in the cabinet used to be commonplace, and has happened at least twice in the last 20 years.

OK, it might be 'legal', but to such a senior position ?
There must be a democratic deficit to consider here ?

Not the way the UK government system works. As long as you can answer questions in parliament then you can be appointed to the executive.

An unelected Foreign Secretary, an unelected Head of State and practically an unelected Prime Minister,....
We're supposed to live in a Democracy ?

[UndercoverElephant]

OK, it might be 'legal', but to such a senior position ?
There must be a democratic deficit to consider here ?

Not the way the UK government system works. As long as you can answer questions in parliament then you can be appointed to the executive.

An unelected Foreign Secretary, an unelected Head of State and practically an unelected Prime Minister,....
We're supposed to live in a Democracy ?

Democracies all work differently from each other. Most of them could use a significant "upgrade".

[Forever_Winter]

Sacking Braverman and appointing Cameron is a complete disaster for the Tories.

They've turned themselves into a centrist party as Starmer takes Labour slightly to the right.

I reckon the right wing Tories may split and form a new party.

[Forever_Winter]

It gets worse for the Tories. Esther McVey has been made 'minister for common sense' in order to combat wokery. Braverman was doing a good job of that be before she was sacked ..

[Mark]

& Steve Barclay becomes the 10th Environment Secretary since 2010, so just over a year each....
And there's approx. 1 year to the next election...., so doubt he'll be getting much done either...
Maybe that's the real plan ?