Who will be the next Conservative Party leader? (UK)

[Heavenly Peace]

If it is so that the Conservatives lose the next general election, or the men in grey suits sharpen their knives and perform regicide upon the Prime Minister, the question must be asked who will be David Cameron's successor? Who do you think, or who do you wish, to be the next leader of Britain's oldest political party? Will the party give Boris Johnson the crown or will the more experienced William Hague reclaim his title?

My bets, and hopes, are on Michael Gove.

[Afalia]

Probably Michael Gove unfortunately. I would much rather see someone like Hague take over, perhaps he'd have more experience, better judgement and run a better campaign this time around, but it's unlikely he'd stand for it again-he's a party elder now not a leader. Jeremy Hunt is also in the running, Theresa May and of course Boris, but I pray none of them get it. I'm not sure really who I'd like, but as long as it's someone who suits my moderate, liberal conservative position I'll be happy.

[Old Tyrannia]

A genetically engineered monstrosity created by combining the frozen sperm of Benjamin Disraeli with Margaret Thatcher's eggs, and taught history purely from Winston Churchill's books.

[Morrdh]

Boris Johnson would be an interesting one, he does seem to be the most popular one in the Conservative Party.

Though what would be a more interesting choice is somebody who'll revamp the Tories and move it away from its current Thatcherite policies, but still won't get me to vote for 'em.

[L Ron Cupboard]

Why would anyone vote for Michael Gove, he could never win an election? Nor could Theresa May, any more than she can get Abu Qatada deported.

If the Conservative party want to win an election they need to pick the dangerously ambitious Boris Johnson, who has a lot of non-Conservative voters fooled.

[Harold I]

Boris Johnson, please! Boris, come on!!!

[Afalia]

Boris Johnson, please! Boris, come on!!!

Boris is appealing and runs London well. However the country? It would be embarrassing. Despite all the talk about him secretly wanting to be leader and eventually PM, I'm not sure he does.

[Afalia]

By the way OP, you missed out a pretty important candidate-George Osborne.

[Great Nepal]

I dont really know, Boris would be cool but... I cant imagine him meeting with anyone serious.
I mean, could you imagine Boris Johnson giving speech alongside American president to threaten Syrian government?

[Heavenly Peace]

By the way OP, you missed out a pretty important candidate-George Osborne.

I only had room for 10 options in the poll and I doubt Osborne would ever launch a campaign bid as he is too loyal to David Cameron. Also we must not forget that a vocal number of conservative backbenchers absolutely hate him and think he hinders their chances of re-election. Although saying that, if our economic prospects suddenly about-turn, then his popularity may well improve.

[Afalia]

I only had room for 10 options in the poll and I doubt Osborne would ever launch a campaign bid as he is too loyal to David Cameron.

Yes, but Osborne is the heir apparent to Cameron when he retires as leader.

[Morrdh]

I only had room for 10 options in the poll and I doubt Osborne would ever launch a campaign bid as he is too loyal to David Cameron.

Yes, but Osborne is the heir apparent to Cameron when he retires as leader.

With Osborne at the helm the Tories can kiss their election chances goodbye, he's hated as much as Cameron is.

[Afalia]

With Osborne at the helm the Tories can kiss their election chances goodbye, he's hated as much as Cameron is.

Not if the economy picks up. He's also the most moderate, and most likely to grab the centre.

[Ostroeuropa]

It better not be Boris.
I rather think Hague may end up getting another chance. I don't think his party holds that election loss against him, and he's reasonably competent and experienced and such. Plus, he's a good debater.

Boris may actually win, but it'd be the deathblow for the countries credibility. I'm inclined to think his government would be a combination of clusterfucks and surprising successes.
"Well, sure, the national health service collapsed. But now we suddenly have the best public transport in the world. And yeh, our economy isn't growing still, but look! Green Energy!"

Osborne can not win an election. His record is too bad. Unless he pulls out record-breaking economic growth, in which case cameron will win anyway.

[Morrdh]

With Osborne at the helm the Tories can kiss their election chances goodbye, he's hated as much as Cameron is.

Not if the economy picks up. He's also the most moderate, and most likely to grab the centre.

The economy has never been his priority, he's even stated that reducing the deficit was his priority even at the cost of the economy.

Recently there have been calls for him from the banks and international creditors to abandon austerity and Britain has been on the verge of a triple dip recession for months now.

[Technopolis]

While having Boris in power would be terrible for myself and pretty much everyone else here, I can't help but have a bit of morbid curiosity about what the official mascot of the tories would do to this country.

[Afalia]

The economy has never been his priority, he's even stated that reducing the deficit was his priority even at the cost of the economy.

Recently there have been calls for him from the banks and international creditors to abandon austerity and Britain has been on the verge of a triple dip recession for months now.

I didn't say it would pick up, but if it did he'd gain popularity.

[Ostroeuropa]

The economy has never been his priority, he's even stated that reducing the deficit was his priority even at the cost of the economy.

Recently there have been calls for him from the banks and international creditors to abandon austerity and Britain has been on the verge of a triple dip recession for months now.

I didn't say it would pick up, but if it did he'd gain popularity.

I don't think he would. He'd need to demonstrate good economic growth, not just economic growth. People would write it off as the economy naturally recovering or say "About fucking time you asshat." This far into his term, a mere recovery won't net him any points. Though it may prevent him LOSING more.

[Nadkor]

I think for Osborne to gain popularity we would need an economic recovery of miraculous proportions. This is a man who even at the Olympics, and in the middle of all that spirit of everyone being bezzies for a few weeks, was still roundly booed.

[Afalia]

I don't think he would. He'd need to demonstrate good economic growth, not just economic growth. People would write it off as the economy naturally recovering or say "About fucking time you asshat." This far into his term, a mere recovery won't net him any points. Though it may prevent him LOSING more.

I'm not suggesting his popularity would shoot up but when the economy grows chancellors naturally become more popular, even if it is a minute polling improvement.

[Terrordome]

Boris is the most popular but I hope it would be Hague as he is probably the only really intelligent person in that party.

[Morrdh]

I don't think he would. He'd need to demonstrate good economic growth, not just economic growth. People would write it off as the economy naturally recovering or say "About fucking time you asshat." This far into his term, a mere recovery won't net him any points. Though it may prevent him LOSING more.

I'm not suggesting his popularity would shoot up but when the economy grows chancellors naturally become more popular, even if it is a minute polling improvement.

In Osborne's case if he cut VAT (which worked for Labour with regards to getting the economy going again) and reversed the recent Welfare cuts then yes, his popularity would shoot up overnight.

But a pig has a greater chance of flying than we have for Osborne to what what I've just suggested.

[Afalia]

In Osborne's case if he cut VAT (which worked for Labour with regards to getting the economy going again) and reversed the recent Welfare cuts then yes, his popularity would shoot up overnight.

But a pig has a greater chance of flying than we have for Osborne to what what I've just suggested.

Oh I'm sure March 2015 will see a few giveaways in the budget before parliament dissolves. The majority of the electorate agree with the welfare cuts though-it is helpful for appealing to the strivers, as Thatcher did.

[Radiatia]

I won't lie - I'd love to see Boris Johnson take over. I doubt it'll ever happen but it would be amazing if it did.

[Democratic Koyro]

A genetically engineered monstrosity created by combining the frozen sperm of Benjamin Disraeli with Margaret Thatcher's eggs, and taught history purely from Winston Churchill's books.

Sweet Baby Jesus.