Maybe I lost something but in 2019 there was not the European elections?
Yes the EU Parliament elections took place at the same time, the results were as follows:
  • Brexit Alliance - 20 (+20)
  • Labour Party - 14 (-1)
  • Conservative Party - 9 (-6)
  • Liberal Democrats - 7 (-)
  • United for Change - 7 (+7)
  • Green Parties - 5 (-2)
  • Scottish National Party - 3 (+1)
  • UK Independece Party - 3 (-16)
  • Plaid Cymru - 2 (+1)
  • Sinn Fein - 1 (-)
  • Democratic Unioinst Party - 1 (-)
  • Alliance Party of Northern Ireland - 1 (+1)
 
The UFC split had me laughing. :closedeyesmile: Splitters gonna split.

Out of curiosity, what's the debate on trans rights like ITL? In OTL it's toxic in Labour and the SNP.
 
The UFC split had me laughing. :closedeyesmile: Splitters gonna split.

Out of curiosity, what's the debate on trans rights like ITL? In OTL it's toxic in Labour and the SNP.
Yes, trans issues are still a big problem and the Commonwealth has a long way to go in terms of trans rights. The good news is the Commonwealth became one of the first major western countries to elect a trans national legislator with Nikki Sinclaire being elected to the Senate for UKIP in 2007. The Green's Aimee Knight was elected as an MP in 2017 and Kathryn Bristow was elected to the South West Parliament. For Labour, Lily Madigan was elected to the South East Parliament in 2017.

Legislatively Trans rights are slightly better than OTL, having a decade of progressive Home Secretaries means it is easier to transition, name changing on papers is less of a hassle and transitioning medicine and procedures are easier to get on the NHS.

However whilst representation is better than OTL, the underlying problems from OTL still persist, transphobic abuse remains high, senior politicians from all parties like Cherry have been accused on transphobia and still remain in positions of influence. The political parties, especially the left-wing ones are still divided and have vocal terf members and factions, Joanna Cherry's campaign for President was probably the most overt transphobic political movement and her campaign did receive condemnation for courting transphobic groups like Woman's Place.
 
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Closer Look, 2019 Northern Irish Senate Election
Northern Ireland had been ruled by acting Premier Michelle O'Neil since Martin McGuiness's death in 2017 working alongside First Minister Arlene who had been in place since 2010. One of the most unexpected results of election night 2019 was in Northern Ireland, where the Alliance went from polling fifth in the 2017 Parliamentary Elections to winning the Premiership and a plurality of the vote in the Senate, Northern Ireland had been gripped by a slow increase in sectarian violence, and the Alliance was able to deftly use a message of unity to take the top spot in Northern Irish politics.

Sinn Fein, led by Deirdre Hargey of the party's "new generation" avoided the collapse the mainstream Unionist parties faced, but still slipped in vote share by 3% being caught up in the Alliance's political wave. Despite this Hargey was elected as Senate President, with powersharing rules stating that the Senate President and First Minister could not be from the same party as the Premier, Farry was ineligible to serve as Senate President so Hargey, getting the second most votes, was tapped instead.

The DUP had a poor night, their Senate Leader, Edwin Poots, was controversial even for a DUP politician, supporting a ban on LGBT adopting and stating that his party's Premier Candidate, Arlene Foster's, most important job was as a "wife, mother and daughter". Poots' many gaffes on the campaign trail coupled with the surge in support to the Alliance and TUV parties meant the DUP lost a seat and fell into third place in the popular vote.

As for the minor parties, the SDLP found itself muscled out of the moderate voted by the Alliance, treading water and failing to make any political group. The TUV made a massive comeback after falling out of the Senate in 2015, mostly benefiting from the collapse of UKIP Northern Ireland and the mainstream Unionist Parties. The UUP saw a sharp decline in support, also afflicted by the TUV and Alliance's surge.
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"For the Premiership - Long attracted a steady rate of transfers from across the political spectrum. Of particular note was that twice as many of Eastwood’s transfers went to Long over O'Neill, allowing Alliance to secure its place in the final round. In the Senate, the UUP’s performance was something of a surprise; few would have expected it to finish in sixth place – behind Jim Allister's TUV. Receiving 12 per cent of first preferences, the lowest vote share recorded by the party in any election that it has contested. The UUP failed to prevent a significant swing to the TUV (or Alliance). With no party representing the moderate, middle-class unionist community, many voters were drawn to the Alliance Party. The SDLP did not face the same strategic difficulties and the resulting decline in vote share as the UUP; in fact, the SDLP was able to hold steady. Jim Allister, the leader of the TUV and former DUP MEP, continues to receive a large personal vote." - The 2019 elections in Northern Ireland, Lecture by Sean Haughey, University of Liverpool (2019)
 
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The good news is the Commonwealth became one of the first major western countries to elect a transnational legislator with Nikki Sinclaire being elected to the Senate for UKIP in 2007.
That sentence picked me up and mentally suplexed me. So I had to Google them
I had no idea the first British trans (EU)parliamentarian was from f***ing UKIP.
This thread is a fantastic way of learning new things about this country!
 
That sentence picked me up and mentally suplexed me. So I had to Google them
I had no idea the first British trans (EU)parliamentarian was from f***ing UKIP.
This thread is a fantastic way of learning new things about this country!
The same country where a guy dressed as Elmo, and a bin-based parody of Darth Vader, stand against the PM in elections.

British politics is really inexplicable, sometimes.
 
2019, Part 8, The Chickens Come Home to Roost
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The fate of a British/Candian citizen trapped in Syria would drive a wedge between Ottawa and Westminster

“The parents of a British-Canadian man imprisoned Syria, are chastising Prime Minister Peter MacKay for saying he wouldn't help their son. MacKay might react differently if his own child was locked in a foreign dungeon without access to a lawyer, the Letts said in a statement. The couple said it is time for Canadian politicians to show leadership and prove that Ottawa is able to protect the rights of all citizens. Questions about the fate of Jack Letts recently resurfaced following talks between Foreign Ministers Andrew Scheer and Ed Davey. Letts' parents said their son, who still holds Canadian citizenship, went to Syria for religious reasons, not to fight for Daesh. It is irresponsible of MacKay to "pass the buck" and let other countries deal with the westerners being held in Syria, they said. Last year, John Letts accused Scheer of falsely stating Jack was a terrorist who had gone abroad to fight with the terrorist organization. "Mr Scheer and his colleagues have continued to spread lies about our son to appear to be 'tough on terrorism,"' the parents' statement said. "”
- Parents of Jack Letts say MacKay is 'passing the buck' on their son's fate, Jim Bronskill, CTV News (2019)

The Miliband Government would face further trouble abroad as Jack Letts, a dual British-Canadian citizen was captured by the Kurdish YPG awaiting repatriation. It now came down to the British and Canadian Governments to decide what to do with him. The Conservatives and Brexit Party called for Letts’ citizenship to be revoked, making him a Canadian problem, but over in Canada, the Conservative Government had declared Letts a British problem. Home Secretary Angela Smith said Britain had a duty to deal with Jack Letts and other captured jihadis itself. “When someone who is entitled to return to this country has committed acts of terrorism, they should be investigated. We are not in favour of making people stateless, that’s a punishment without due process. Removing citizenship may please MPs, but it isn’t justice in any sense. Government ministers won't offload Britain’s responsibilities to other countries.” Letts, a Muslim convert from Oxford, became known as “Jihadi Jack” after travelling to Syria. Now 24, he was captured as he tried to flee to Turkey and was charged by Kurdish authorities. The British government agreed to repatriate Letts for trial as the Canadian Government refused to take him. Pierre Paul-Hus, Canada’s public safety minister, said he “would not lift one finger to bring this self-described terrorist to Canada." The row over Letts came days before Miliband was due to meet Peter MacKay at the G7 summit in France.

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Sparks were expected to fly at the G7

“This weekend's G7 summit is unlikely to produce a joint communique amid deepening divisions between the world's leading nations. It will be the first time the forum of leading economies has failed to produce a statement of common intention and agreement since it began in 1975. This is the latest blow to the post-Cold War consensus of free trade, democracy, and globalisation that it once represented. Alan Juppe will host Ed Miliband, Donald Trump, Martin Schulz, Shigeru Ishiba, Peter MacKay, and Luigi De Maio for the summit. An early sign of trouble came last week when Donald Trump repeated his call for Russia to be readmitted to the group. Vladimir Putin has been persona-non-grata at G7 meetings since he annexed Crimea in 2014. Mr Juppe immediately shot that down, warning it would be “strategic error” to let Russia back into the club. "To say that without any conditions Russia can return to the table would be signing off the weakness of the G7,” he said.”
- As G7 leaders gather in Biarritz, the group is more divided than at any time in its 45-year history, Roland Oliphant, The Telegraph (2019)

Whilst bringing Letts back to Britain may have been the right move in terms of international law, it was extremely unpopular at home, it further fuelled perceptions that the Miliband/Thornberry Government was weak on terror and provided an open goal for the right-wing parties in PMQs. The incident also soured relations with Canada, with many in the Miliband Government feeling that the MacKay Government had behaved irresponsible and backed Britain into a corner by unilateral refusing to take Letts. With Letts coming home, the standoff with Iran still ongoing, and divisions within the Labour Party, the Government was looking increasingly tenuous.

Confrontations with Canada wouldn't be the only event at the G7, as the leaders arrived in Biarritz Miliband's top priority was the fires raging in the Amazon rainforest. “The President is concerned by the increase in fires in the Amazon rainforest and the impact of the tragic loss of these precious habitats,” Press Secretary Juliet Eales said, after a call to action from the French president Alan Juppe. “The effect of these fires will be felt around the world which is why we need international action to protect the world’s rainforests. Britain will continue to support projects in Brazil to do this. The President will use the G7 to call for a renewed focus on protecting nature and tackling climate change.” Miliband planned to coordinate pressure against Bolsonaro, who he blamed for inspiring the fires. Miliband said: “Bolsanaro has allowed and indeed encouraged these fires to take place, to clear the forest. Foreign Secretary Ed Davey said the Government would not be “cosying up” to Brazil due to its deforestation policies. Bolsonaro had been criticised for attacking the country’s environmental agencies. The fires had created giant clouds of smoke that drifted hundreds of miles and prompted the state of Amazonas to declare an emergency.

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Bolsonaro became Miliband's number one target

“Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro accused The National Institute of Space Research (INPE) of making up "lies" that hurt the country's trade talks. "News like this that does not match the truth and causes great damage to the image of Brazil," Bolsonaro said in a press conference last week. Germany announced that it will suspend funds sent to Brazil to finance projects aimed at preserving the Amazon forest. The state of Mato Grosso prohibits agricultural fires between July 15 and September 15. But, satellite images show various active forest fires there as well. Satellites also show gas emissions from the fires, which are a better indicator of intensity. "The increase in forest fires in the state is worrisome. INPE's deforestation warning system showed an increase in these rates. With action we can avoid an increase in deforestation," said the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation. INPE's report did not or show any deforestation in the 42 areas protected by the state according to an official memo. The state government is also raising farmers' awareness and increasing their presence in at-risk areas in an attempt to curb the fires.”
- Amazonas declares state of emergency over the rising number of forest fires, Rafael Cereceda, Euro News (2019)

With Trump and Miliband not on speaking terms, MacKay angered around the Letts situation and Miliband clashing with Bolsonaro, Britain’s friends on the world stage were numbered. Despite this, Miliband managed to coordinate a relatively united front at the G7 (with the exception of Trump) getting French President Alan Juppe and German Chancellor Martin Schulz to agree to a series of harsh trade sanctions against the Bolsonaro regime. Whilst his popularity at home was falling, abroad he was increasingly known as a global climate crusader and his speech at the G7 titled “our house is burning” went viral amongst ecological groups around the world.

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Greta Thunberg was invited to speak in Parliament alongside Ed Miliband

Over in Ottawa, the Royal Family’s string of bad years continued to get worse as the Queen’s son Prince Andrew was filmed at the mansion of child sex trafficker Jeffery Epstein. Prince Andrew defended his former friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, saying "at no stage" did he "see" any criminal behaviour. Epstein, took his own life in a jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. In a statement, the Duke of York said he wanted to "clarify the facts" around his "former association or friendship" with the US financier. He said it was a "mistake" to meet Epstein after he left prison in 2010. "During the time I knew him, I saw him no more than once or twice a year," the prince said. "I have stayed in some of his residences. At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that led to his arrest." The duke - who said he first met Epstein in 1999 - added that he had "tremendous sympathy" for all those affected by Epstein's behaviour. "His suicide has left many unanswered questions and I acknowledge everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure."

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Prince Andrew's interview with the CBC was a car crash

Prince Andrew’s assertions that he knew nothing about Epstein’s darker side were suspicious at best, as he continued to associate with the man after Epstein was released from prison in 2010. The Prince Andrew backlash was the biggest threat to the monarchy since the Diana Crisis and amongst the world’s journalists, the main question became how much did the Queen know? The New Democratic Party demanded a full investigation into Andrew and the Royal Family’s link to Epstein, MP Nicki Ashton even went as far to call for Andrew to be arrested and prosecuted. With the loss of Britain and Australia, the Royal Family was increasingly reliant on the Canadian state, and with Canada's people turning against them, the monarchy faced extinction.

“Campaigners have condemned Rideau Hall's invitation to the king of Bahrain to attend the Queen's Plate horse show this weekend. The arguing that Canada should not provide a public relations opportunity to what they say is a repressive regime. King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa met the Queen at the event on Friday, demonstrating a warmth of official ties. Ali Mushaima, the son of a jailed opposition leader, said he would protest outside the event to draw attention to the detention of his father. Writing in the Guardian, the activist said: “Yet while the king socialises with dignitaries, my ageing father languishes in a cell. He is not alone: thousands of political prisoners fill the overcrowded cells of Bahrain’s prisons." The king regularly attends the prestigious Queen's Plate horse show, which is a highlight in the Queen’s year. Pictures on Friday showed him meeting the British monarch and Prince Andrew, with the two heads of state laughing together. Such is the closeness of the two monarchs that they have gifted each other horses from their respective stables.” - Queen's meeting with the King of Bahrain prompts protests, Dan Sabbagh, The Guardian (2019)

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The Queen would be judged by the compay she kept

““Miliband’s second-term foreign policy was mostly a failure”, discuss. (30 Marks)” - A Level Politics Exam
 
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Closer Look, 2019 London Premier Election
London had been ruled by Premier Sadiq Khan and First Minister Jeremy Corbyn since 2014, the latter winning a surprise victory in the London Labour Leadership election of 2014. Khan and Corbyn had a rocky relationship and the London Labour Party was sharply divided. Despite this, Khan was a popular Premier, investing in cheap transport and reducing house prices, Khan won an impressive 35% of the vote in a nine-way race and then won a solid majority in the second round with 62% of the vote.

For the Conservatives, the campaign was a disaster. Their candidate, Shaun Bailey had served as an advisor to President Howard on crime before being elected to Parliament in 2014. Bailey's campaign was gaffe filled, accused of Islamaphobia and Hinduphobia. Most notably Bailey alienated London's traditionally Conservative Hindu community by saying that South Asian communities were "crime-riddled cesspools". Bailey fell to 15% of the vote, one of the worst results for the Conservatives in the capital, coming dangerously close to not making it into the final round.

The Liberal Democrats nominated Deputy First Minister Caroline Pidgeon, who was known with for her seemingly constant clashes with First Minister Corbyn. As the most prominent woman in the race, Pidgeon's campaign focused on improving access to childcare and ensuring London's women could return to work. She put in a decent performance gaining a respectable 11% of the vote.

As for the middle candidates, the Brexit Alliance nominated Peter Whittle, a former UKIP Senator, Whittle focused his campaign on targetting the eurosceptic suburbs of outer London and opposing Heathrow expansion, considering London's liberal leanings Whittle did well, gaining 9% of the vote.

United for Change nominated Redbridge Mayor Mike Gapes. Gapes was one of the most experienced candidates in the field, having served as Mayor from 1999 to 2009 and then retaking the Mayoralty in 2014. Gapes based his campaign around attack Khan for his association to First Minister, gaining 7% of the vote.

MP Caroline Russell was put forward by the London Greens a transport and pedestrian safely campaigner, Russell based her campaign around making London safer for Pedestrians, pledging to Pedestrinaise Oxford Street, Regent Street and Soho. Russell was swept up in the Khan wave, only receiving 6% of the vote.

In regards to the minor candidates, UKIP Senator David Kurten and Women's Equality Party State Senator Sandi Toksvig received 6% of the vote, whilst former State Seator George Galloway's independent bid only got 5% of the vote.
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"London Premier candidate Shaun Bailey has been criticised after arguing that increasing police numbers was "useless". It comes as Mr Bailey prepares to deliver a speech on violent crime in the capital on Wednesday, and gears up to take on Sadiq Khan. In recent weeks, Theresa May has made it a flagship policy of her campaign to increase police numbers by 30,000. During her speech, the Senate Opposition Leader said it was a priority of hers to make "streets safer". But Mr Bailey's previous comments were seized on by Labour, who claimed they were a "slap in the face to our police". In a 2005 publication, Mr Bailey wrote: "The police can't deal with the causes of the problem. To expect them to is one of the big myths in our world. Everyone talks about more policemen, useless. Anybody who knows anything about criminals will realise that they are not concerned with police, they never have been and never will be." He added: "The only way to cut crime or anti-social behaviour is to change people's attitudes." - Tory Premier candidate criticised after it emerged he said increasing police numbers 'useless' in deterring criminals, Ashley Cowburn, The Independent (2019)
 
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Slightly irrelevant but do people still habitually refer to Britain as the UK or has it been fazed out?
It's an age gap thing, most people born from the 90s onwards have only ever known the Commonwealth so they almost never say UK. The older you get the more likely you are to say UK but it's mostly phased out amongst people under 40-50. Older folk tend to be the most stubborn in saying UK, complaining about the UK name change in this TL is similar to your nan complaining about pounds and shillings.
 
2019 Conservative Leadership Election
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With an unpopular Prime Minister and the economy contracting, Labour activists were demoralised

“Months after winning Buckingham for a second time, a major new poll has found support for Labour is collapsing across the country. The latest study from YouGov of over 11,500 voters has given the Conservatives a lead in every English region apart from London, the North East and North West. The figures will come as a boost for the Conservatives, whose party now leads the polls in former Labour heartlands. The Conservative lead in the regions is driven by plummeting support for Emily Thornberry’s party, who have dropped 11 points since 2017 to 25%. Despite not having a Lead Candidate, the Conservatives are polling at 39%, a 14 point lead. The collapse in Labour's fortunes is surprising considering their victory a few short months ago. The figures also show a boost in support for the Lib Dems, whose merger with United for Change has driven up their poll numbers across the country. The party has secured an eight-point boost to 18%. Nigel Farage's Brexit Alliance meanwhile sits on 8%, a five-point decrease from its vote share in the 2019 Presidential Election.”
- Major new poll finds support for Labour collapsing, John Johnstone, PoliticsHome (2019)

With the Government seeming to be constantly on the verge of collapse and Labour collapsing in the polls, the Conservatives decided they would get their house in order, recruitment for a replacement to the embattled Amber rudd began. The party’s national committee announced their leadership election would take place at the end of September. Nine candidates initially emerged; Anglian Premier Steve Barclay, South West First Minister Robert Buckland, Anglians MP Therese Coffey and Liz Truss, Former Education Secretary Michael Gove, Former International Development Secretary Jeremy Hunt, East Midlands MP Robert Jenrick, Deputy Parliamentary Leader Rishi Sunak and Barnet Mayor Theresa Villiers.

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Gove's Presidental campaign had been a disaster, he wanted to repair his reputation

Many expected whoever led the Conservatives would take Downing Street, considering Labour’s dire polling. Every Tory MP with an ounce of ambition wanted to become the party’s lead candidate, leading to a huge field of nine candidates. This field would quickly narrow however, both Jenrick and Villiers, fairly unknown players, dropped out due to a lack of funds and support amongst the Conservative caucus. Coffey too was also forced to drop out after she was criticised for defending a Member of the Welsh Parliament who said people on the Channel 4 TV show “Benefits Street” should be “put down”. For those candidates who stayed in the race, they quickly found themselves overshadowed by the big beasts of the campaign.

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Anglian Premier Steve Barclay was one of the drowned out candidates

“Sunak’s professional background is also uncommon for British politics. He had a distinguished career in investment banking before entering politics, despite his young age. Banking experience might seem “appropriate” for a Tory but it’s not a common background for British politicians. The position of Parliamentary Leader or Prime Minister is indeed often a stepping stone to the Presidency. But Sunak lacks an independent political base. Unless he is a political genius, it seems unlikely that he could become the next President. Yet, there is a different possible interpretation of these facts. Here is a politician who rose to the limelight very quickly. Colleagues admire his analytical ability. He was loyal to Amber Rudd – one might wonder why a Eurosceptic hawk-like him aligned with her. Importantly, too, he already seems to appeal across party lines. Sunak could be the man who will change British politics.”
- Can the Tories’ bright young banker change British politics?, Lecture by Despina Alexiadou, University of Strathclyde (2019)

The two main candidates were Deputy Leader Rishi Sunak and Former Secretary Jeremy Hunt, with Former Secretary Michael Gove in a strong third. Despite serving as Rudd’s deputy, Sunak was seen as the change candidate, having been appointed as Deputy to balance the party as a eurosceptic from the right. If he won Sunak would be the first BAME Leader of a major party, aged 37, Sunak would be one of the party’s youngest leaders in history. Sunak called for a clear break from the tactics of Osborne and Rudd, saying that by tacking to the centre, the party lost support to UKIP and the Brexit Party, and reaped no benefits as the Liberal Democrats would always prefer Labour. Telegenic and popular, Sunak was a strong favourite.

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Sunak called for a clean break with the Rudd era

For the Osbornite moderate faction, there was Jeremy Hunt, hot off a failed Presidential bid, Hunt made the opposite argument to Sunak, highlighting May’s poor performance amongst vote transfers and the party’s decline in traditionally Conservative areas, such as the more middle-class cities in the South East and London like Reading and Wandsworth. Hunt argued that with the Government on the verge of collapse, the Tories needed to work with the Liberal Democrats and the rump of United for Change to create a broad-church centre-right Government.

“Imagine for a moment that you’ve got a new job as the new Tory Leader's director of strategy, or chief of staff, or whatever title you like. Your brief is to plot a course to the victory of the Tory party at the next election. You’d immediately take a look at your political inheritance and conclude that you had a lot of problems, but two major assets. Firstly your party is still more trusted to manage the economy. Secondly, "generic Conservative" is, more often than not, preferred as Prime Minister to Emily Thornberry. Assuming that advantage continues for the next Leader, you keep a useful political advantage – and a not insignificant hope. When the polls have been wrong about voting intention, the beneficiary of the error has been the party that leads on leadership. The important thing about the question of “Who is the best Prime Minister?” is it is a comparative, not an absolute one. The judgement that voters will make about Sunak or Hunt is partly about how they feel about one candidate or another in a vacuum, but also about how they feel about the choice they are making.” - Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt’s political inheritances, Stephen Bush, New Statesman (2019)

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Hunt argued he was the best qualifed candidate to become PM on day one

Gove ran as a compromise unity candidate, pointing to his experience in Government. However his detractors pointed towards his unpopularity amongst the country, and his disastrous Presidential campaign, during which he dropped out before the vote even took place. Whilst Gove had loyal followers across the Tory Party, most Conservative MPs were desperate to win and wanted to either play it safe with Hunt or take a risk with Sunak. Compared to those two, Gove might have been a compromise, but he was a bad compromise. As he travelled around Westminster trying to drum up support, he found most Conservative MPs giving him the cold shoulder.

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South West First Minister Robert Buckland ran on his experience as a First Minister

The minor candidates struggled to make any headway. Robert Buckland was the only candidate who got any sort of media attention, pointing towards his multiple electoral success as South West First Minister, Barclay, on the other hand, languished in obscurity. Liz Truss had been expected to do well as the only woman in the race, but much of her support had been eaten up by Rishi Sunak and she was ostracised after posting a photo of women Conservatives alongside pro-Putin Russian Oligarch Lubov Chernukhin with the caption “#ladiesnight”. The major gaffe raised eyebrows in the intentional community and gave Labour an easy avenue of attack, essentially dooming Truss’ campaign.

As the campaign took place over a matter of weeks, not months there was little space or time for outsider candidates to breakthrough. Sunak and Hunt were locked in a pitched battle as the minor players fell to the wayside. Polls showed Hunt as narrowly ahead amongst Tory MPs, but through one good speech after another Sunak began to pull level with Hunt. Sunak’s big moment came when former President Michael Howard offered up his endorsement. Howard still held a place of esteem amongst many Tories as the only majorly successful post-Commonwealth Conservative politician, with Howard’s endorsement Sunak serged, the race was on a knife’s edge.

After a brutal race, the Conservatives met at their conference in Bradford to unveil their candidate for Prime Minister. The ballot of MPs had been closely guarded and most journalists predicted a toss-up. Eventually, the waiting was done, National Committee Chair Paul Scully announced Sunak had won with 52% of MPs to Hunt’s 48%. Sunak was the youngest major party leader in recent history, and he was the most right-wing Conservative Parliamentary Leader since David Davis led the caucus in 2005. With its new young charismatic leader at the helm, the Conservative Party was about to radically change, but not everyone in the party was happy.

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“We can unite our country, we can unleash the potential of this whole country and take it forward. I said before. I had a campaign slogan which was to deliver a referendum, unite the country and defeat Emily Thornberry. I didn't say which order I was going to do it in. We will defeat Emily Thornberry, we are going to deliver a referendum and we are going to unite our country and take it forward. And we are going to energise our country. So thank you all very much. You deserve a massive, massive congratulations. I am not going to single out anybody in particular. But thank you CCHQ, everyone who volunteered, everybody who has worked together, all our troops around the whole country. You have done an amazing job and you should be proud of what you have achieved. So I hope you will allow yourself some brief celebration because the work is going to begin very shortly." - Rishi Sunak’s victory speech (2019)

“To what extent did Rishi Sunak’s leadership represent a clean break from the Amber Rudd era? (30 Marks)” - A-Level Politics Exam
 
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