IDS leads the Tories in 2005

[johnloony]

I have never quite understood how or why IDS fell so quickly. It's almost as if having a sore throat disqualifies someone from being PM...

[john07]

The difference for me between IDS and Howard is that the latter came over, maybe unfairly, as part of the nasty squad, while IDS was rightly perceived as incompetent.

Both were losers even against a shopnsoiled Blair.

[catking]

The more interesting question would be if Hague hadn't run for leader in 1997 and become leader when more mature/seasoned in 2001. How would he have done in 2005?

[greenhert]

Not that much better than Michael Howard to be honest. Only a few seats' outcomes would have changed.

[Deleted]

Suppose the Lib Dems do a lot better if IDS was Tory leader:

The Lib Dems gain Edinburgh South, Islington South & Finsbury, Oxford East, but also West Dorset and a few others from the Conservatives.

[neilm]

Apr 9, 2018 15:40:23 GMT timrollpickering said:

I think it's now how to realise just what a shot of enthusiasm Howard's leadership brought to the party. There had been despair for years and finally we felt we were moving forwards. Although not all problems were solved overnight, there was a big pulling together with the party now working as a united team for the first time in a decade and that helped push onwards.

Absolutely. I went out and bought champagne because I felt that, at long last, the adults were back in charge.

[middyman]

Apr 9, 2018 16:32:26 GMT johnloony said:

I have never quite understood how or why IDS fell so quickly. It's almost as if having a sore throat disqualifies someone from being PM...

A sore throat which seemed to surface every Wednesday at noon.