Conservative Leadership Race: Managed Exit or Citizens Assembly?

Yesterday I used the term softer politics, whatever that means. Anyway, I watched Andrea Leadsom's ptich for the Tory leadership on the Marr Show yesterday. I don't know enough about all the Tory leadership candidates to make a fully fair judgement, so I'm just sitting back and watching it all unfold. However, I do very much like Andrea Leadsom. She seems very balanced and sensible.

She also seems to have a good head for detail. Which is a very reassuring quality for a candidate who will be enacting a no deal Brexit.

Her leadership slogan is "decisive and compassionate", which doesn't set the world alight as a headline, but does seem very apt for her. It also, once again, sends out the message of balance. Hard decision making, but with the utmost care. I'd feel very confident with her at the helm.

Another leadership candidate who seems to be putting out a caring and compassionate message is Rory Stewart. He seems like a decent guy, and he's become very memeable recently. Which seems to have upped his profile.

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However, he seems to be pushing for this idea of a "citizens assembly" to solve the Brexit impasse. This idea has also been suggested by the likes of Stella Creasy in the past, and is similar to methods of engagement used by Macron in France.

Its proponents state that it will use a random selection of citizens to discern a fair and compromised way forward. However, "we have to make sure all sides of the argument are fairly represented". So it'll be about as random as a Question Time audience.

I think ideas like this are just used to provide a semblance of democracy. So it looks as though the will of the people is being enacted. When in reality it's more the will of a carefully selected segment of the public.

So memes or no memes it's a no from me.