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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 7h

Many thanks, Guy

Guy Stallard @guystall.bsky.social · 8h

This is excellent

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14h

There's a potential path back for the Tories, but not by being a Reform tribute act
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 7h

Thank you, Jane

Jane Green @profjanegreen.bsky.social · 9h

Conservatives, @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social is on the money here.

There is only one way back, and that is to reclaim competence.

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14h

There's a potential path back for the Tories, but not by being a Reform tribute act
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

1 2

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 10h

Thank you, Hilary

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 12h

Many thanks, Martin.

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 12h

Thank you, Ian

Ian Cambrook @iancambrook.bsky.social · 14h

I’m old enough to remember when the Tories were called the “natural party of government”. Not any more after George Osborne’s austerity, Boris Johnson’s Brexit, PartyGate and the Liz Truss debacle. Sharp analysis from @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social this week #politics👇

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14h

There's a potential path back for the Tories, but not by being a Reform tribute act
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

4

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 12h

Thank you, Mike

Mike Towers @britpolitics.bsky.social · 14h

@andrewrawnsley.bsky.social correctly highlighting why Tories repelled by Reform probably won’t vote for a tribute act. If they vote tactically, who they choose will decide the result of the next General Election.
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

The Conservatives must reclaim competence – and stop imit...

Years of blunders have wrecked the Tory brand. Mimicking Nigel Farage won’t rebuild it – owning their failures might

observer.co.uk

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 12h

Thank you, Brian. We agree. Unlikely at the moment.

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 12h

Thank you, Ben

Ben Fuller @politicsastar.bsky.social · 15h

@andrewrawnsley.bsky.social spots the gap in the market for the Conservatives as a competent, responsible centre right party IF they abandon “karaoke Faragism” AND “frankly acknowledge everything they got wrong.”

#KemiBadenoch #NigelFarage #bbclaurak #LVIPolitics

observer.co.uk/news/columni...

The Conservatives must reclaim competence – and stop imit...

Years of blunders have wrecked the Tory brand. Mimicking Nigel Farage won’t rebuild it – owning their failures might

observer.co.uk

2

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14h

There's a potential path back for the Tories, but not by being a Reform tribute act
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

The Conservatives must reclaim competence – and stop imit...

Years of blunders have wrecked the Tory brand. Mimicking Nigel Farage won’t rebuild it – owning their failures might

observer.co.uk

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 4d

Kemi Badenoch’s closing speech was a success- in the conference hall at least.

observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

Badenoch’s speech may just have bought her a bit more tim...

The confident speech touched most of the right notes for her Conservative family in the Manchester hall, but voters are unlikely to be as convinced

observer.co.uk

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 7d

Agree. That’s a very long time in politics.

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 7d

Thank you, Ian

Ian Cambrook @iancambrook.bsky.social · 7d

The call to ‘Renew Britain’ after the self-sabotage of leaving Europe (but we can’t admit that, can we). Thoughtful piece by @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social this week👇
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

It’s not enough to be up for the fight – Keir Starmer mus...

A harder challenge lies ahead for the prime minister – persuading voters and some within his party that he can deliver

observer.co.uk

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 7d

The difficult road ahead
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

It’s not enough to be up for the fight – Keir Starmer mus...

A harder challenge lies ahead for the prime minister – persuading voters and some within his party that he can deliver

observer.co.uk

2 6 11

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 12d

Thank you, Aladdin

AladdinNoons @aladdinnoons.bsky.social · 12d

@andrewrawnsley.bsky.social on form as ever

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 12d

Keir Starmer’s conference speech: a rallying cry his party likes and a flavour of Blue Labour.

observer.co.uk/news/politic...

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 12d

Keir Starmer’s conference speech: a rallying cry his party likes and a flavour of Blue Labour.

observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Starmer played the patriot card – but in a hand with no aces

With his party conference speech the PM may have quelled an uprising, but the battle against Reform has only just begun

observer.co.uk

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Thanks, Martin. But you do need to score some goals!

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

I think Baron Burnham of Manchester might be a bit hard to sell!

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

I believe not so long as they could command a majority in the Commons. Let me know if you discover otherwise.

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Thank you, Andrew

Andrew Naughtie @andrewnaughtie.bsky.social · 14d

V good. The question I’d ask is: in what scenario in which Burnham *doesn’t* become leader do he and the current No. 10 *both* end up better off?

Given the degree of serendipity or machination that’d be needed to get Burnham in, I struggle to see how this can possibly be a positive-sum game.

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Fantasy politics
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Thank you, Alan

alan @spacexecadet.bsky.social · 14d

Andrew is spot on, as usual, in this pre-Conference analysis. Burnham isn't the threat but lack of cut through is.

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Fantasy politics
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Thank you, Stuart

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Thank you, David

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Interesting point, Matthew

Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 14d

One of the running problems with contemporary political journalism is a boredom with mechanisms. Unless the mechanisms exist to make dramatic things happen, they mostly don’t happen.

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Fantasy politics
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

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Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Thank you, Ian

Ian Cambrook @iancambrook.bsky.social · 14d

Wise words by @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social “The setbacks and reverses of politics are easier for parties to endure and voters to tolerate when they are confident that the leader has a project that will ultimately bear fruit.” And that means raising our living standards observer.co.uk/news/columni...

Andy Burnham taking Keir Starmer’s crown is pure fantasy

Leadership speculation is a distraction from Labour’s real challenge of restoring confidence and offering hope

observer.co.uk

1

Andrew Rawnsley @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social · 14d

Fantasy politics
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

Andy Burnham taking Keir Starmer’s crown is pure fantasy

Leadership speculation is a distraction from Labour’s real challenge of restoring confidence and offering hope

observer.co.uk

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