And the result is...

I don't know - because I'm in Washington at the First International Conservative Conference On Social Justice but please blog away below as soon as the result is declared...

Comments

[James Hellyer]

"The fact is a rebellion of two out of the entire body of government MPs would make the government a minority. This would not indicate that the leader of the government had lost the support of the party, merely of two people within the party."

It was more than two - a lot more - and polling data from the time showed widespread disatisfaction with Major's leadership from party members.

"Interesting diversion tactic though."

It's not a diversion tactic. It's the point. A leader does not submit themself for re-election if they don't have to, because it undermines their authority.

Major did so when there was no compulsion to do so. Ergo his authority was already undermined. He could not control his parliamentary party - including members of his own cabinet (the "bastards").

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"It's not a diversion tactic. It's the point."

It is a diversion because you're making a separate argument to the one I addressed.

However, I'm not going to argue with you any more over this because I'm tired, I'm too young to remember much about the Major years and you are simply deploying all your favourite argumentative weaponry for someone who disagrees with you as usual.

[James Hellyer]

"It is a diversion because you're making a separate argument to the one I addressed."

Nope, it's part of the same argument (I'm multi-faceted, me).

"and you are simply deploying all your favourite argumentative weaponry for someone who disagrees with you as usual"

Hypercritical and - dare I say it - hypocritical ;=)

[James Hellyer]

And on that salubrious note, I am off to bed too!