Conservative Leadership Betting: Bonkers to back Boris?

How do you solve a problem like the Conservatives? Certainly, in my opinion, not with Boris Johnson. If I were inside the Conservative Party I'd be asking myself 'who can win us an election?' and if that is too difficult a question then 'who is least likely to lose us an election?'.

Boris polls well with Conservative members and the wider general public. But they are the converted. To win an election he has to be able to take votes from Labour and UKIP. And I'm far from convinced he can. The guy is a liability waiting to happen and an opportunist supreme. Many people on Twitter were quick to tell me that Boris swung the referendum. I beg to differ. I'm of the opinion that Brexit was always going to win and whoever was in charge wouldn't necessarily swing it. Plus I think his own self created buffoon personality will start to grind on people. Like I said, he polls well and has won the London Mayoral Election twice so has good form. But now he's in touching distance of the top job, inches away from being the most powerful person in the country, I think those normally warm to Boris will really think this through and come to conclusion that we need somebody more professional. Certainly what we don't need is another white, middle-aged, rich, Eton-educated man.

I backed Theresa May at 7-2 as soon as betting opened as she has all the attributes needed to takeover a wounded party and take them forward. I also think a woman in charge would be a refreshing change and a much needed one at that. After this referendum we've just had we need someone who will be less confrontational who thinks more before they speak. The loyal Boris followers on Twitter were quick to point out to me that she backed Remain. Well she didn't and she didn't really. Fact she was on the Remain side, but she never tried to use conjecture as fact nor did she attempt to scare monger. I also think a Home Secretary couldn't back Brexit no matter what and by electing a Remainer the Tories can come out of this whole saga with a tiny shred of unity and maturity. I've got the value as she's now 15-8 best price and I'm happy with my position on my bet. Certainly if Boris drifts nearer to 7-4 or 15-8 I may well go in for some insurance.

Of the others Stephen Crabb and Andrea Leadsome - it may sound harsh - just haven't got the profile or face for the job. I cannot see either of them as being electable to the wider general public despite them both being quite impressive characters.

Then we have the deluded. Who on earth told Nicky Morgan and Jeremy Hunt they should put their names forward? They're either self-delusional or have some very deluded staff. Indeed Cameron's resignation speech had hardly finished when Nicky Morgan had announced she intended to run. When MPs like these two make decisions such as they have you really have to question how in touch these MPs are.

In summary I can't see the race being anything other than May v Johnson and I'm of the opinion that the Tories will want to put this period of politics behind them. The only way they can do this is by electing May and I have a funny feeling common sense will prevail.