Anxious
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I really want Conservative MPs to show some backbone...

...and get rid of Liz Truss now, before even more damage is done. To state the obvious, I am no fan of the Conservative Party and I'm pretty happy with polling that shows them getting hammered in the next general election. Their self-immolation is taking the country down with them though. And that is something that I care about more.

I don't care if it's for the wrong reasons. Maybe they are more concerned about losing their seats than the general good of the country or whatever but Conservative MPs are the only people who can stop this. Our economy is already fragile and a lot of people are struggling badly. If the tax plans go through, it will mean debt and destitution for millions.

Lesser-evil arguments do sometimes make a big difference so get Sunak in or Johnson back now and don't leave it a year until the damage is irreparable. Sadly, Truss and Kwarteng have delayed publication of the official analysis of their tax plan until November, which is probably enough to keep them hanging in.
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How much support does the "Libertarian" faction have? Is it possible the majority of Tories think she is right? Or are her lot just a loud minority in the party?
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Tory party members voted for her. She was nominated second among Tory MPs and a lot of that was because Rishi Sunak was the one to knife Johnson and his supporters backed her as the populist to rain on his parade. They are apparently regretting this now.

The 'hard' libertarian faction does exist with the 'clean Brexit WhatsApp group and the ERG. Think Jacob Reece Mogg and friends. It's at most about 20% of Tory MPs but punches above its weight because it speaks to the base.

Most Tory MPs are now shitting themselves because the economic predictions and the polling are both ridiculously dire. This is not hyperbole. This is at least the biggest economic crisis in Britain since the 70s (by figures so far) and one poll put them 33% behind Labour. Keir Starmer has underwhelmed even to fringe voters but he now looks like Robin Hood! Conservative voters are ringing radio phone-ins to complain about how awful Truss is and how embarrassed they are by Truss.

Politically, this is about the Tories getting high on their own supply. Election victories and Brexit allowed them to convince themselves that they had a mandate for free-market economics and that this worked pragmatically. They've fucked it even on their own terms.
@Burnley123 Sounds like the Tea Party situation in the GOP in the 2000s when they showed up at the right time to punch above their weight but were quickly abandoned by the rest of the party when catering to the Ayn Rand crowd was no longer politically useful. Especially when they started threatening forcing a default if they didn't get their way. Very similar buyer's remorse there too and now I think Rand Paul is the only one who survived the shift.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Yes there is a faction of our Conservatives that are like the 'Freedom Caucus' and this matters because they are in the driving seat.

However, that seat is getting rocky. When you have the world's largest economy and the world's reserve currency you can make a lot of mistakes as America has. Britain is in a much more vulnerable situation.

Most Tories are rightwing pragmatists. Libertarianism here doesn't have a large popular base like in America and even the Tories own voters are deserting in droves.
@Burnley123 Sounds like it sucks to be a Tory right now. The current PM and company are about to crash the ship but forcing an election looks like that would be bad for them too.

Seems they have nothing but bad options.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow And they are picking the worse of their bad options. It is epic political suicide but the damage to the country is tremendous.
@Burnley123 Yikes.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Yes. I teach kids in a deprived area and I'm not in a great situation personally. I should be ok. Others will be less fortunate.
@Burnley123 Well best of luck to you.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M