Originally Posted by
Drummond
It's a small, but 'telling' point: we've been shown pictures of Iran flying the Iranian flag on the tanker they've seized.
I hope Jeremy Hunt is taking notes. I somehow seriously doubt he thinks that Iran is a particularly belligerent power: evidence of belligerence is acknowledged, yes, but he thinks they can be reasoned with and good results will be obtained via diplomacy ... as if reason and moderation can be expected to guide Iranian thinking.
As for Boris Johnson v Jeremy Hunt ... Boris has been well ahead in support throughout this leadership contest. When the candidates were whittled down to just the final two contenders (I can't remember if it all started out with 12 of them, or 14), he had over half of the total possible votes ... that was when four contenders were in the game, with the bottom two disqualified from continuing.
Everyone expects Boris to win. It's seen as certain enough for his win to almost become a mere formality.
Hunt v Johnson ... who do I want to win ?
Hunt comes across as more personable. He's a clearer and more accomplished speaker. Everything about his manner, in fact, makes him seem to me to be the better, more competent, more 'Prime Ministerial', candidate.
Ah, but, if only his policies were better .. !
Boris Johnson is unequivocal, unlike Hunt. Boris says we'll leave the EU on 31st October, 'come-what-may'. That makes him a deserving winner, right there. Both candidates (with Hunt at one time a 'Remainer') say they're working to get Brexit done by Halloween, BUT, Hunt refuses to guarantee an exit by that date. A fatal flaw: so many people are crying out to finally get it DEALT WITH.
Boris quotes Gatt 24, para 5b, as a way we can exit but with minimal harm. It would enact WTO trading rules for us, but is designed to keep tariffs to and from Europe at zero for us, potentially for up to a decade. So, where trade is concerned ... we'd be free to finally do deals of our own, AND be cushioned from EU-inspired tariff wars ... IF ... the EU agreed to 5b activation.
Hunt, so far as I know, has no position on any of that (none I'm aware of, anyway). He's too focused on getting some sort of EU deal worked out. This is despite the EU refusing to offer one, or, saying it'll even consider any alternative to the one which Parliament has rejected THREE times.
News: Philip Hammond, our Chancellor, says he'll resign as Chancellor if Boris wins. Reasons:
1. Hammond was originally a Remainer (within the EU). He says he now respects our need to leave the EU, but ...
2. .... will resign if Boris wins, because Boris wants a commitment from all future Cabinet ministers that they'll accept our exit by 31st October. Hammond opposes keeping to that deadline, 'come-what-may'.
Boris's approach is the one most respectful of the 2016 Referendum result. He comes across as a 'can do, therefore WILL do' candidate. Hunt does not. Much as he's doing over the tanker dispute with Iran ... he's more inclined to do deals and just fudge his way through difficulties.
We don't need that nonsense. So, I'm pro-Boris.
I've posted this before, by the way .. Boris was born in New York. If he ever chose to, he'd be entitled to claim American citizenship.